It is not the first time the French president has enjoyed a “bromance” with a fellow world leader.
The presidents of France and Brazil – both wearing white open-necked shirts – have been pictured smiling warmly at each other and embracing, with social media users calling it a “bromance”.
Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva clutched Emmanuel Macron’s hand as he led him through some difficult terrain on the island of Combu in the Amazon rainforest.
The leaders stopped and smiled for the cameras, as Mr da Silva, also known as Lula, clutched his French counterpart’s wrist.
When they headed off again, Mr Macron was grinning widely.
The pictures have been delighting people on the internet.
A social media user on X said: “Macron and Lula look like they just got married and are having a whirlwind honeymoon”, while another wrote: “Pre-wedding shoot of the year.”
Mr Macron has been on a three-day visit to Brazil that aims to relaunch the bilateral relationship and strategic partnership which stalled during the previous government of Jair Bolsonaro.
It is not the first time the French president has appeared to enjoy a close friendship with a fellow world leader.
He and Prime Minister Rishi Sunak seemed to get on well when they met in Paris in March 2023.
“Le bromance” was mooted. The pair had similar backgrounds, were close in age, and even had a comparable sartorial style, it was suggested.