New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who has long projected a close friendship with US President Donald Trump, has tweeted a hearty note of congratulations to Brazil’s Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, one of the few remaining critics of Trump in Latin America, who was re-elected on October 25.Lula’s surprise election after a runoff victory following an initial-round defeat has been hailed as a “miracle” for bucking trends and appearing as a relief to liberals who were against the win of his opponent Flávio Bolsonaro, son of former president Jair. Modi, in his post on X, called Lula his “dear friend.” “Heartiest congratulations to my dear friend, President Lula, on his remarkable re-election victory,” he wrote. “I look forward to working closely with him to further deepen and expand the multifaceted India-Brazil Strategic Partnership. Together, we will continue to strengthen our cooperation across diverse sectors, advance the shared priorities of the Global South and work towards a more inclusive, equitable and sustainable world,” he also said. Lula stands out as a third-world economic force which is keen to defy Trump’s demands despite the pressure of mounting tariffs. Brazil is Latin America’s largest economy, with a GDP of $2.6 trillion per year.India’s response, in comparison, has been one of public silence, with the Modi government toeing most US lines for fear of sanction, including Washington’s pushing of US energy onto India and the bar on Iranian flights landing on Indian soil to collect medicines while at war with the US and Israel. In 2025, a day after India and Brazil were first hit with steep US tariffs, Lula had telephoned Modi, and as The Wire had reported then, the contrast in their public responses to the move was immediately apparent.While Lula explicitly signalled for the two countries to confront “unilateral tariffs” together, India’s official account of the conversation made no mention of the issue.Trump has been an open supporter of Jair Bolsonaro, Lula’s rival, who was is serving an almost three-decade prison sentence for his role in a 2022–2023 coup plot.Meanwhile, former Kerala chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan has also tweeted to Lula, calling his victory one that gives hope to Indians looking to defeat the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh’s Hindutva politics. Vijayan said:“His victory reaffirms the enduring relevance of Left politics and the power of the working class to shape its own future. From Brazil to India, the lesson is clear that confronting the far right requires a systemic alternative rooted in workers’ rights, social justice and equality. @LulaOficial’s victory renews hope in the struggle against the Sangh Parivar’s divisive politics and for a more just and democratic India.”Communist Party of India (Marxist) Rajya Sabha MP John Brittas has also tweeted congratulations to Lula and said that it is an inspiration. Brittas wrote on X:“Comrade Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has once again achieved a resounding victory in the elections in Brazil. His victory over the far right serves as an inspiration to struggles worldwide. He did not just defeat his main rival in Brazil, Flávio Bolsonaro; Lula also defeated Trump and the United States, who had imposed sanctions on Brazil at every turn. Despite American authorities carrying out campaigns and other maneuvers to secure Bolsonaro’s victory in the Brazilian elections, Lula overcame them all to claim victory.“Comrade Lula’s victory provides a tremendous inspiration to the fight against the divisive politics of the Sangh Parivar in India. It sends a clear message to our struggles: communal divisions cannot withstand the power of the working class.”Like Brittas, Sri Lanka President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has also called Lula ‘comrade’, and reposed hope in this win, posting on X:“Today, the people of Brazil did not just win an election; they defeated the forces of corruption, division and political lies.“Comrade [Lula]’s historic victory in Brazil shows that the people cannot be fooled by bankrupt political dynasties and the ghosts of the past who believe might is greater than right.’“Many congratulations, companheiro, for leading the march of progress yet again!