NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Brazil President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva spoke on phone on Thursday amid ongoing tariff tensions from the US. The two leaders exchanged views on various “regional and global issues of mutual interest.” Both the nations face 50% tariffs from the US.“Had a good conversation with President Lula. Thanked him for making my visit to Brazil memorable and meaningful. We are committed to deepening our Strategic Partnership including in trade, energy, tech, defence, health and more. A strong, people-centric partnership between Global South nations benefits everyone,” PM Modi said in a post on X.According to an official statement, PM Modi “recalled his visit to Brazil last month during which the two leaders agreed on a framework to strengthen cooperation in trade, technology, energy, defence, agriculture, health and people-to-people ties.”“Building on these discussions, they reiterated their commitment to take India-Brazil Strategic Partnership to new heights. The two leaders exchanged views on various regional and global issues of mutual interest,” it said.This comes a day after Lula said that he would speak to PM Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping, as he refused to call Trump to negotiate. “I will call him, I will call Xi Jinping, I will call Prime Minister Modi. I just won’t call Putin, because Putin can’t travel right now,” he had said.The Brazilian president has firmly said that his government would pursue all available options, including taking the issue to the World Trade Organization, to oppose Trump’s 50% tariff on its exports.PM Modi’s talks with Lula have taken on new significance in light of additional 25% tariffs imposed on Indian goods. The tariffs, linked to a stalled trade deal and India’s continued imports of Russian oil, have drawn sharp criticism from New Delhi, which has called the move “unjustified” and reaffirmed its commitment to buying Russian crude.