Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has pushed back against Donald Trump’s approach to international relations, saying the US president should respect the sovereignty of other nations.
Lula made the remarks in an exclusive interview with CNN’s Christiane Amanpour ahead of the United Nations General Assembly in New York.
The Brazilian leader said Trump was elected to lead the United States, but argued that this does not give him the authority to dictate how other countries should run their affairs.
Lula called for dialogue and negotiation between nations, stressing that countries should be able to protect their own interests and make independent decisions.
The comments come amid growing disagreements between Brazil and the Trump administration, particularly over US tariffs on Brazilian products.
Lula said Brazil’s trade with the United States had declined following the tariffs, while the country had increased trade with several other nations. He said Brazil was seeking to expand its partnerships rather than focus solely on its dispute with Washington.
Despite the tensions, Lula said Brazil was not looking for a trade war with the United States. He said negotiations were still taking place and that Brazil would consider reciprocal measures only if those talks failed.|
Lula raises concern over Brazil’s election
The Brazilian president also spoke about concerns over possible foreign interference in his country’s upcoming election.
Lula acknowledged that there was no concrete evidence of US interference but said there were indications that raised concerns, including issues involving artificial intelligence and political relationships.
He has also publicly warned against foreign interference in Brazil’s electoral process, calling for the country’s political future to be determined by its voters.
Lula criticises US role in Venezuela
Lula also questioned Washington’s expanded involvement in Venezuela.
He said the US approach gave the impression that Washington was taking control of the South American country’s affairs and argued that Venezuelans should be allowed to determine their own political future.
The comments come as Trump continues to push for a stronger US role in the Western Hemisphere, including military action against drug cartels and increased involvement in regional security matters.
Lula’s remarks add another layer to the growing diplomatic tensions between Brazil and the United States, with sovereignty, trade and regional affairs becoming key points of disagreement.
Source: CNN
