NEW DELHI: Brazil President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva on Sunday urged the United States not to spark a “new Cold War” and called for all countries to be treated equally, signaling a desire to reset relations ahead of a planned visit to Washington next month.
“I want to tell US President Donald Trump that we don’t want a new Cold War,” Lula said at a press conference in New Delhi, where he wrapped up a three-day visit to India. “We don’t want interference in any other country, we want all countries to be treated equally.”
Lula said his upcoming agenda with Trump would focus on trade, immigration, investment, and academic partnerships. Relations between Brasília and Washington have been tense over recent months, with disputes ranging from tariffs on Brazilian exports to disagreements on foreign policy.
The remarks came shortly after the US Supreme Court ruled six to three on Friday that a 1977 law used by Trump to impose tariffs on foreign goods “does not authorize the President to impose tariffs” on individual countries. Trump subsequently said he would replace those measures with 15% levies under a different statute.
While Lula declined to comment directly on the court ruling, he expressed confidence that discussions with Trump would restore normalcy in bilateral ties. “I am convinced that Brazil‑US relations will go back to normalcy after our conversation,” he said. “Brazil only wants to live in peace, generate jobs, and improve the lives of our people.”
In recent months, the Trump administration has eased some tensions, exempting key Brazilian exports from a 40% tariff imposed last year. Lula described the thaw in relations as a step toward global stability. “The world doesn’t need more turbulence, it needs peace,” he said. Lula’s visit to India also focused on strategic partnerships, with both countries agreeing to strengthen cooperation on critical minerals and rare earths. The two nations signed a series of agreements covering trade, technology, and innovation during the eeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The Brazilian leader, who is known for his leftist positions and has often clashed with Trump on trade and foreign policy, emphasized dialogue over confrontation. “We don’t want to interfere in any country; we want all nations to be treated fairly,” Lula said, highlighting Brazil’s preference for diplomacy and cooperation in an increasingly tense global environment.
