In a pointed interview with the Spanish daily El País, Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva rebuked U.S. President Donald Trump for his aggressive rhetoric and interventionist actions, arguing that global leadership should be defined by mutual respect rather than intimidation.
Key Highlights:
- Denouncing Threats Against Iran: Lula specifically addressed Trump’s recent warning that “whole civilizations” could be destroyed if Iran did not comply with U.S. demands regarding the Strait of Hormuz. Lula asserted that no leader has the right to “wake up in the morning and threaten a country,” calling such behavior a violation of both international norms and the U.S. Constitution.+2
- Criticism of Venezuela Intervention: The Brazilian leader also took aim at Washington’s direct actions in Venezuela, including the recent capture of Nicolás Maduro by U.S. special forces. Lula insisted that it is not the role of the United States to “run Venezuela” and emphasized that the country’s future should be determined through free elections without foreign interference.+1
- A Call for Mature Diplomacy: Noting that both he and Trump are in their eighties, Lula remarked that leaders of their age should govern with “great maturity.” He contrasted his own preference for building diplomatic respect with Trump’s “very misguided game” of using military and economic power to dictate global rules.+1
- U.N. Reform: Reinforcing his long-standing foreign policy goals, Lula used the interview to renew his call for a major overhaul of the United Nations Security Council. He advocated for the removal of the permanent members’ veto power and for more representative inclusion of nations from Africa and Latin America to better maintain global peace.
Lula’s comments come ahead of a planned meeting in Spain with other left-leaning leaders, signaling a growing international effort to challenge the current U.S. administration’s “America First” approach and its impact on global stability.