BRAZIL, RIO DE JANEIRO — A diplomatic rift is escalating between Brazil and the United States after President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva forcefully rebuked what he described as “unacceptable” US interference in Brazil’s internal democratic processes. The Brazilian leader’s remarks followed a wave of criticism from former US President Donald Trump, who denounced the legal actions against former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro as a political witch hunt.
“We are a sovereign country. We do not accept interference or tutelage from anyone,” Lula wrote in a sharply worded post on the social media platform X. “Defending democracy in Brazil is the responsibility of Brazilians themselves.”
Lula’s statement came in response to Trump’s remarks last week, in which the Republican presidential frontrunner accused Brazil’s government of orchestrating a politically motivated prosecution against Bolsonaro. “It’s an attack on a political opponent,” Trump declared, echoing his own grievances over investigations he has faced in the US. “This is a witch hunt. They are trying to silence Bolsonaro because they fear him,” according to Reuters.
The comment drew immediate backlash from Brasilia, where the Lula administration is navigating a tense domestic political climate marked by lingering divisions from the contentious 2022 election and the fallout from the January 2023 riots in Brasília. Bolsonaro, who lost to Lula in a fiercely fought presidential race, has been barred from holding public office until 2030 for his alleged role in encouraging the riots.
According to the Brazilian electoral court, the former president is under investigation for abuse of power and disinformation, with prosecutors alleging he helped incite the storming of federal buildings by supporters unwilling to accept Lula’s return to power.
Despite these legal troubles, Bolsonaro maintains a loyal base. Late last month, he rallied over 12,000 supporters in São Paulo, calling for an amnesty law and demanding the right to contest the 2026 elections. The demonstration was seen as a direct challenge to Brazil’s judiciary and an implicit appeal to conservative sectors that still view Lula with skepticism.
In his response to Trump, Lula did not mince words. “He should spend less time online and more time fulfilling his responsibilities,” Lula said. “We already had such a president here in Brazil,” he added, in a clear reference to Bolsonaro, who has long modeled his political style on Trump’s playbook.
The political friction underscores the increasingly visible ideological alliances forming across national borders, particularly between far-right leaders in the Global North and South. Bolsonaro was one of the few heads of state to openly support Trump’s 2020 reelection campaign and adopted Trump-style rhetoric in questioning the legitimacy of Brazilian electoral institutions.
For Lula, now in his third term, the situation is not just about rebuffing Trump but also about asserting Brazil’s global autonomy. Since returning to office in January 2023, Lula has championed multipolar diplomacy, stronger ties with BRICS nations, and renewed South-South cooperation. His criticism of US interference fits squarely within that broader vision.
Analysts point out that Lula’s firm response isn’t just about defending Bolsonaro—it signals Brazil’s broader shift toward asserting itself as an independent global power. During the recent BRICS summit, Lula emphasized Brazil’s sovereign right to set its own path, resisting any attempt to be “dictated to” by foreign governments. According to Reuters, he framed the group as a successor to the Non‑Aligned Movement, promoting “multilateral diplomacy amid violent conflicts and trade wars” and reinforcing that Brazil sought “autonomy” in shaping global governance, as Reuters noted. This posture reflects the growing confidence of a nation seeking to redefine its international role on its own terms.
While Lula’s administration continues to face economic and political hurdles domestically, his foreign policy approach signals a wider rejection of US dominance in Latin American affairs. Recent efforts to deepen ties with China, Russia, and Iran—and his vocal condemnation of the US blockade on Cuba, have only heightened tensions with Washington.
Although the Biden administration has remained largely silent on the Trump-Bolsonaro exchange, diplomatic observers say Lula’s statement is a clear message to both current and former US leadership.
Analysts observe that Lula’s forceful response marks a broader effort to elevate Brazil’s standing on the world stage. As reported by Reuters, during the BRICS summit in Rio, Lula rejected any notion of external dominance by declaring that the global landscape “has changed” and making it clear that countries no longer accept being treated like imperial subjects, as Reuters Reported. By framing BRICS as a continuation of the Non-Aligned Movement and emphasising autonomy in global trade, Lula signaled that Brazil is determined to operate as an equal partner in world affairs—not merely a flank in Western-led geopolitical chess.
Analysts say Lula’s comments reflect a broader strategic shift in Brazil’s foreign policy—one that embraces greater autonomy in global affairs. Citing Brazil’s active role in climate negotiations and trade discussions, Reuters highlighted his push at the BRICS and Mercosur summits, where he emphasized multilateral cooperation and urged regional partners to seek closer ties with Asia rather than relying solely on traditional Western alliances.
The question of external interference remains deeply sensitive across Latin America, given the region’s history of US-backed coups and covert interventions. In reaction, Lula’s uncompromising stance on sovereignty resonates across Brazil’s political spectrum—even among moderates.
Meanwhile, Bolsonaro has responded with defiance: in São Paulo, his rally speech declared, “They fear the people. They fear our return.” His legal team has signaled intentions to challenge his political ban in international courts, and reports suggest he has been engaged with right-wing networks in Europe and the US
Whether Bolsonaro will succeed in restoring his political rights remains uncertain. But what is clear is that Brazil’s political divisions are now playing out on a global stage, with foreign actors like Trump stirring the pot. And Lula, it seems, is no longer willing to let such provocations go unanswered.
