Brazil President Lula speaks in Brasilia

Brazil President Lula speaks in Brasilia

Brazil's President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva delivered a strong message of defiance against US trade policies and political interference during a recent Workers' Party event in Brasília. Lula, speaking at the National Meeting of the Workers’ Party, emphasized that Brazil will not accept unequal treatment from the United States and is prepared to defend its interests on the global stage.

The Brazilian leader condemned recent US threats to impose a 50% tariff on Brazilian exports, stating, "Trying to use a political issue to economically sanction us is unacceptable" [1]. Lula also reminded the audience that Brazil would not forget the US's role in past political events, including the 1964 Operation Brother Sam and the 2016 impeachment of former President Dilma Rousseff.

The US has been accused of interfering in Brazil's political landscape by imposing sanctions on Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes, who is overseeing the legal cases against former President Jair Bolsonaro. The US State Department has claimed that Moraes abused his authority and undermined freedom of expression [1].

Lula's comments came amidst growing tensions between the US and Brazil, with Brazil's Finance Minister Fernando Haddad welcoming US President Donald Trump's remark that Lula could call him, indicating a potential opening for trade talks [2]. However, Lula maintained his defiant stance, stating that Brazil is open to trade negotiations only if treated as an equal partner.

The Brazilian leader also reiterated his commitment to multilateralism and his government's readiness to retaliate if the US continued to use tariffs as political leverage. He emphasized that Brazil, as a founding member of the BRICS bloc, had the economic and political weight to negotiate with the US on equal terms.

The US's tariff threats and sanctions have sparked protests in Brazil, with Bolsonaro supporters staging marches against the government and Moraes. Despite the political turmoil, Lula's message underscored Brazil's resolve to stand firm against foreign interference and unequal treatment.

References:
[1] https://presstv.ir/Detail/2025/08/04/752449/Lula-de-Silva--Brazil-%E2%80%98won%E2%80%99t-forget-US-helped-stage-a-coup%E2%80%99
[2] https://www.hindustantimes.com/world-news/brazils-lula-says-open-to-us-trade-talks-if-treated-as-an-equal-101754245648976.html