From the Merdeka Palace in Indonesia, Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva issued a strong call to the U.S. administration to reconsider its approach to military interventions in Latin America.
In his opinion, it is essential to prioritize regional collaboration in the fight against drug trafficking.
During his visit to Southeast Asia, Lula highlighted that, under the pretext of combating drug trafficking, the United States has intensified its military operations in international waters in the Caribbean and the Pacific. According to his claims, these actions have resulted in the sinking of at least nine vessels and have begun to spread beyond Venezuela, also involving Colombia.
"Before judging someone, before punishing someone, there must be evidence. You can't simply say you're going to invade, that you're going to combat drug trafficking in foreign territory, without taking into account the constitutions of other countries, the self-determination of peoples, the territorial sovereignty of each country," Lula stated.
Proposal for dialogue and cooperation
The Brazilian president suggested a more constructive alternative, adding, "It's much better for the United States to be willing to engage with the police in our countries, with the justice communities in each country, so we can do something together." This proposal seeks to foster a collaborative approach to the fight against drug trafficking, rather than resorting to unilateral actions.
In addition to his criticism of US military policy, Lula expressed his desire to meet with President Donald Trump during the ASEAN leaders' summit in Kuala Lumpur. The main objective would be to address the diplomatic crisis between Brazil and the United States, generated by the 50% tariffs imposed on Brazilian products. Lula considered this measure to be retaliation for the impeachment of Jair Bolsonaro, a political ally of Trump. "I am fully interested in that meeting. And I am fully willing to defend Brazil's interests and show that there was a mistake in the tariffs on Brazil. I want to prove with numbers that it was a mistake," he declared.
Lula also demanded the elimination of sanctions and restrictions imposed on Brazilian officials, arguing that these punitive policies negatively affect Brazil's sovereignty and economic development. He also warned of the potential risk of foreign intervention in Venezuela, especially given Trump's recent statements and the military deployment in the region. Caracas has denounced these actions as part of an interventionist plan aimed at bringing about regime change and seizing its natural resources. The UN has described the US attacks as extrajudicial executions, further escalating diplomatic tensions. Lula concluded his speech by reaffirming Brazil's commitment to regional peace and sovereignty: "Latin America does not need more invasions. It needs respect, cooperation, and justice," reported Telesur.
