Brazil's President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and his US counterpart Donald Trump agreed in a phone call Tuesday to intensify cooperation in the fight against organized crime, the Brazilian presidency said.

Lula phoned Trump after the two men in October held their first official meeting, ushering in improved ties after months of growing animosity between Brasilia and Washington.

During the 40-minute conversation, Lula said greater cooperation was needed between the two countries to fight organized crime, the presidency said in a statement.

The conversation comes amid tensions over US strikes on alleged drug traffickers near the Venezuelan coast, which have killed at least 83 people since early September.

Lula highlighted recent police operations in Brazil aimed at financially suffocatin

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