BRASÍLIA, Brazil: Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva on Thursday criticised US President Donald Trump, accusing him of attempting to “become an emperor of the world” and urging him to respect the sovereignty of other nations.
Post-World War II democracy has been an example of the best governance of the last 70 years, said Lula in an interview with a local radio station, “but the way (Trump) acts, he is trying to become an emperor of the world”.
“He is trying to chime in on all countries and in all public policies,” Lula added.
Lula’s comments come after Trump lashed out at Ukraine’s leader Volodymyr Zelensky, branding him a “dictator” and blaming him for Russia’s invasion of his country.
Washington has irritated Kyiv by entering into direct talks with Russia in a bid to end the war.
Lula did not give specific examples, but urged Trump to “realize that the sovereignty of each country must be respected.”
Lula, who has not spoken with Trump since he took office in January, reiterated that the United States was an important commercial partner to Brazil and asked for greater gestures of “friendship.”
“We want this protectionism to stop,” he said, referring to tariffs announced by Washington on Brazilian products such as steel.
Brazil’s President criticised Trump for negotiating solely with Russia’s Vladimir Putin on a potential end to the war in Ukraine. According to Lula, peace in the region cannot be restored without involving Ukraine’s head of state, Volodymyr Zelensky, in the negotiations.
“Trump wins the elections and starts talking with Putin. Now, many people are concerned that Trump needs to bring Zelensky to the negotiating table because it’s currently just Putin negotiating. I also think it’s wrong. It’s not about calling only Putin or only Zelensky. Both need to be called to the negotiating table to find a common denominator that can restore peace,” said President Lula.
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The Brazilian president also argued that the European Union needs to be included in discussions on ending the conflict. “I think Trump’s role in negotiating without wanting to hear the European Union is very bad because the European Union has been heavily involved in this war. I believe the European Union cannot be left out of the negotiation now,” he argued.
“If Trump is genuinely playing and wants peace, he can achieve it. I think China can be an important partner, Brazil can contribute,” President Lula added.
Earlier in an interview with local radio stations, the Brazilian leader rejected Trump’s proposal to take over the Gaza Strip. He dismissed the US president’s expansionist ambitions and tariff threats against trading partners as “bravado”.
“No country, no matter how important, can fight the entire world all the time,” Lula said when asked about Trump.
