Brazil’s President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva fired back at US President Donald Trump, declaring that Brazil is a “sovereign country” and Brazilians are the “masters of our own destiny.” The strong message came during a recent address, aimed directly at Trump amid growing tensions between the two nations.
This comes just a day after White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt warned that the US won’t shy away from using its economic and military power to protect “freedom of expression.” She was responding to questions about the ongoing trial of former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, who’s facing charges for allegedly trying to grab power after losing the 2022 election.
Lula didn’t hold back. He invited Trump to visit and see Brazil’s progress firsthand, saying, “If Trump comes, we will have to show him this panel so he can see it and compare it with the American panel. So he knows that we believe in ourselves. We are a sovereign country and we are masters of our own destiny. This is a demonstration of Brazilian competence in all areas.”
The spat has roots in recent US actions. Back on July 30, the Trump administration slapped plans for tariffs as high as 50% on Brazilian exports and even targeted sanctions against Alexandre de Moraes, a key Brazilian Supreme Court justice handling the Bolsonaro case. These moves have sparked outrage in Brazil, fueling debates on Brazil-US relations and international sovereignty.
Lula has been vocal about this before. In August, during a cabinet meeting on August 26, he made it clear that Brazil won’t bow to outside pressure. “Brasilia is not willing to be treated as lesser by others,” he said, rejecting any foreign meddling. He emphasized that everyone in Brazil, no matter who they are, must follow the law—no exceptions.
Highlighting Brazil’s independence, Lula added, “Anyone who wants to enter these 8.5 million square kilometres—our airspace, our maritime space, our forests—must be accountable to our Constitution and our legislation.” He specifically called out Trump’s tariffs on Brazilian goods and threats against regulating big US tech companies.
Still, Lula left the door open for talks. The Brazilian government is ready to negotiate with the US “on equal terms,” he stressed. “What we are not willing to accept is to be treated as if we were subordinates.” As Brazil stands firm on its sovereignty, the world watches how these Brazil-US tensions unfold.
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