(MENAFN) Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva announced Monday that a commercial agreement with Washington is assured after direct talks with President Donald Trump at Malaysia's hosting of the 47th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit.

Speaking to reporters in Kuala Lumpur one day following the high-stakes bilateral encounter, Lula expressed confidence despite receiving no explicit commitments from the US leader.

"Although he (Trump) didn't make any promise, he guaranteed to me that we will reach an agreement, a deal, and I think it's going to be faster than many people are thinking," Lula told a news conference in Kuala Lumpur, a day after he met the US president.

The Brazilian head of state revealed he leveraged his nation's regional influence during negotiations, specifically addressing the volatile Venezuelan situation with Trump.

"I raised the Venezuelan issue to him ... And I told him that it would be extremely important to take an account Brazil's expense as the largest country in South America, as the most important economic country of the South America ... He should take in account that Brazil can help him in the relationship with Venezuela," Lula said.

Washington has targeted Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro with accusations of leading narcotics trafficking operations, fueling speculation about potential US intervention to oust the embattled leader.

Beyond bilateral matters, Lula pledged Brazilian backing for Malaysia's full membership in BRICS, the economic alliance comprising 11 nations.

Via the US social platform X, Lula characterized his discussions with Trump as highly productive.

"We discussed the bilateral trade and economic agenda in a frank and constructive manner. We agreed that our teams will meet immediately to advance in the search for solutions to the tariffs and sanctions against Brazilian authorities," he wrote.

Trump, meeting Lula on Sunday, said: "I think we should be able to make some pretty good deals for both countries."

The reconciliation dialogue comes against a backdrop of severe economic friction—50% US import duties and targeted sanctions against Brazilian government figures linked to criminal probes involving Trump associate and former President Jair Bolsonaro, who received a 27-year sentence for orchestrating a coup attempt. The two leaders initially connected through video conference in early October before scheduling the face-to-face encounter.

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