Moments of warmth occurred at the Palácio do Planalto Palace, Wednesday (9/7), as Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto and Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva gave a joint statement after their bilateral meeting. At the end of his remarks, Lula slipped in a closing word in Indonesian: “Terima kasih” which means thank you. The simple greeting caught the attention of the audience, becoming a gesture of appreciation towards the culture of their guest from Southeast Asia.
Shortly after, Prabowo responded in a similar fashion, closing his speech with a word in the language spoken in Brazil: “Obrigado,” which means thank you. Two words, one from Indonesia and one from Brazil, symbolize more than just courtesy. It represents equality, mutual respect, and a sincere intention to strengthen the relationship between two major democracies in the southern hemisphere.
This moment was a sweet conclusion to a series of serious discussions covering cooperation in food security, defense, renewable energy, and technology. But it was through these simple expressions that the public grasped the personal closeness of two leaders from different cultures yet on the same wavelength.
In the world of diplomacy, often rigid and full of formalities, “Terima kasih” and “Obrigado” serve as a reminder that international relations are also built on personal touch.
