In a recent conversation, the nation’s President Lula stated that he holds “absolutely no relationship” in any way with ex- American leader Donald Trump.
Lula frequently criticized the former president, yet this represents the strongest signal to date that in his view dialogue between the two leaders is now completely nonexistent.
Trade Disputes and Taxes
Despite the US maintaining a trade surplus with Brazil, Donald Trump introduced import taxes of fifty percent on Brazilian exports back in the summer.
Lula described these measures as “eminently politically motivated” and warned that US shoppers would eventually see elevated costs for Brazilian goods.
“US people are going to bear the cost for the errors President Trump is committing in his relationship with Brazil.”
No Direct Contact
The two presidents have never spoken directly. When asked on why he never tried to contact Trump, President Lula stated: “I never attempted that call since he did not wanted to engage in a discussion.”
Even though Trump has said that Lula could “contact him anytime,” he insisted that officials of the former administration “do not wish to talk.”
Lula further revealed that he initially heard about the US tariffs from local news sources.
Speaking about the former US leader, he said that the president “did not reach out in a proper way. He just posted them on his platform.”
‘He’s Not Emperor of the World!’
The Brazilian president highlighted that his poor relations with Trump were the anomaly, adding that he has established positive ties with former US presidents, British officials, the EU, China, Ukrainian leaders, Venezuelan representatives and “all nations worldwide.”
Asked about who he had a stronger relationship with – Donald Trump or Russian President Putin – Lula defended his ties with the Russian leader, noting they built them when both served as leaders “in the past.”
“There is no connection with Donald Trump since at the time he was elected, I was not president. His relationship is with Bolsonaro, not with our nation.”
He also said that if he saw the former president at next week’s international summit, he would “greet him because I consider myself a respectful person,” although he cautioned that Trump is “president of the US, however he is no emperor of the world!”
Comments on Former President and Coup Charges
Lula also touched on his preceding leader, Bolsonaro, who was last week found guilty by the nation’s highest court.
A 4-1 ruling, justices determined the ex-president culpable of plotting a attempted overthrow following being defeated in the presidential race to Lula and sentenced him to over two decades in jail.
He said that his predecessor and his co-conspirators had “harmed the nation, tried to carry out a takeover, and planned assassination.”
Additionally, he criticized Donald Trump for “spreading untruths” by claiming that the former president was being persecuted and questioning the condition of democratic institutions in the country.
The Brazilian leader further commented that if the 6 January Capitol riots had happened in his country instead of the United States, the former president would have been charged.
UN Changes and International Relations
In the wide-ranging interview, Lula further called for changes of the international body.
Lula challenged the fact that five nations – the permanent members of the UN Security Council – have the authority to veto actions and claimed that this biased the scale in support of those who won World War Two, leaving out nations like billions of people including Brazil, the Europeans, India, the Japanese, and African countries.
Consequently, Lula argued, the UN does not “have the authority to resolve conflicts” and the P5 permanent members take “one-sided” decisions about starting conflicts.
Oil and Environment Policy
Interviewers further questioned Lula about November’s COP30 climate summit, where Brazil will host international delegates in the Amazon city of Belém do Pará.
Domestically, the leader has encountered backlash over his backing for exploratory drilling for crude off the delta of the Amazon.
Brazil’s national oil firm Petrobas and additional firms have purchased leases for drilling and are pending approvals.
His own environment minister, Marina Silva, has strongly objected to the initiative, and some activists fear it could risk oil spills in waters adjacent to the rainforest.
President Lula maintained that Brazil was closely following the law in its exploration and that if any accidents, then “Brazil would be liable and address any problem.”
He added that he favors a planet free from non-renewables although “that time has not arrive so far.”
“I ask any nation that is ready to undertake an shift to renewables and able of phasing out fossil fuels.”
Lula, who is seventy-nine years of age, said that he had not yet made up his mind if he will run for re-election in the 2026 presidential elections.
He said that his well-being and his party would decide that – along with whether it was strategically wise and whether he had a possibility of winning.
Lula dropped in the polls lately, but gained a increase following Trump introduced duties on Brazilian goods.
In closing, he said that his achievements involved lowering {hunger|food insecurity
