Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva once again defended countries’ sovereignty, specifically citing the situations in Latin America and Brazil, where, he stated, attempts have been made to exert foreign influence over national political processes.

He said that the problems facing Latin America and the Caribbean stem from the region’s proximity to major powers.

Notícias relacionadas:

• Brazil rejects Trump’s criticism of its domestic fight against drugs.
• Justice says Brazil’s sovereignty must prevail over US threats.
• China defends Brazil’s sovereignty and proposes greater cooperation.

“In Latin America and the Caribbean, geographical proximity to the world’s greatest military power is inescapable, especially in the context of resurgent hegemonic ambitions. Brazil wouldn’t fit in anyone’s backyard,” he said during a speech at the opening ceremony of the 81st UN General Assembly on Tuesday (Sep. 22) in New York.

“We are once again witnessing foreign interference in electoral processes. The division of the world into spheres of influence and neocolonial encroachments on strategic resources are anachronistic acts,” he noted, citing recent events in Venezuela, Nicaragua, Haiti, and Cuba.

The region, he went on to declare, has come a long way toward consolidating democratic regimes following periods of dictatorship and authoritarianism. In this context, he advocated for greater regional integration and respect for the self-determination of peoples.

“We need partners with a positive agenda that fosters development. Ideological differences should not be an obstacle to greater integration among neighbors. The countries of the region have recognized the horrors of authoritarian regimes. We have come a long way toward restoring the will of the people,” he stated.

Democracy under threat

President Lula also warned of what he described as a resurgence of practices incompatible with the contemporary international order. “Democracy is once again under threat,” he said.

When mentioning countries in the Americas, the president stated that each nation must chart its own course. In his view, the Venezuelan people must decide their own fate without external interference, while Nicaragua will not solve its problems by preventing the opposition from participating in elections.

He also mentioned the humanitarian crisis in Haiti and once again criticized the economic embargo imposed on Cuba.

Networks of disinformation

The Brazilian leader also mentioned the influence of disinformation networks during election campaigns and stated that the Brazilian government will be vigilant against possible attempts at interference.

“We do not underestimate the challenge posed by disinformation networks that seek to distort public debate during the campaign,” he declared.

He then emphasized his confidence in the country’s institutions and electoral system. “We will not allow the enemies of democracy, whether internal or external, to undermine the will of the people. Brazil will remain a sovereign nation. No one will divert us from this path,” he declared.

Denialism

Lula also highlighted the dangers of fake news, especially regarding scientific findings on issues such as health and the environment. “In the age of disinformation, obscurantists resist scientific evidence,” he said, while advocating for the fight against denialism.

“We will never forget the millions of lives lost due to the failure to adequately address COVID-19. Anti-vaccine campaigns are bringing back diseases we thought had been eradicated. Weakening the World Health Organization makes everyone more vulnerable.”

“Until recently, the response to climate change was firmly established at the center of the international agenda. This year, the issue has disappeared from the debates at the G7 and G20 – forums that bring together the world’s largest carbon emitters. It is time to go back on the offensive and defeat denialism.”

Public safety

When addressing public safety, Lula rejected the involvement of foreign forces in combating organized crime on national territory and advocated for international cooperation in specific areas, such as combating arms trafficking and money laundering.

“We will not transfer the responsibility for defending our borders and guaranteeing the people the right to live without fear,” he stated.

The president added that the fight against crime must be carried out through cooperation among governments, not through external military actions. “We don’t need aircraft carriers patrolling our waters; we need cooperation to stem the flow of weapons and money that fuels organized crime.”

According to Lula, Brazil has presented the US with a proposal for cooperation to combat money laundering carried out by Brazilian criminals abroad.

The president also stated that Brazil has been strengthening coordination among the states and expanding efforts to combat criminal organizations.

In his opening address to the high-level segment of the 81st United Nations General Assembly - traditionally delivered by a Brazilian president - Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva will emphasize the importance of multilateralism, one of the central tenets of Brazilian foreign policy, in a context marked by a proliferation of international conflicts.

The president arrived in New York on Sunday (Sep. 20). In his speech, he will advocate for negotiation as a means of resolving disputes, respect for international humanitarian law, and non-interference in the internal affairs of other countries. Lula will present Brazil’s perspective on the main issues on the international agenda.

Notícias relacionadas:

• Brazil rejects Trump’s criticism of its domestic fight against drugs.

Reform of the United Nations, particularly its Security Council, will be among the topics to be addressed. For years, Brazil has advocated for updating the composition and functioning of the body and has criticized its inability to respond effectively to international conflicts.

Lula will hold bilateral talks with other heads of state, in addition to meeting with UN Secretary-General António Guterres, who is in the final stages of his term at the helm of the international organization. He will also meet with New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, the progressive Democrat who took office at the beginning of the year.

This will be Lula’s 11th appearance at the United Nations General Assembly as president of Brazil. During his three terms in office, he has only missed the assembly once, in 2010.

Trump

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has not provided any information on the possibility of a meeting between Lula and US President Donald Trump before he returns to Brazil on Tuesday (22).

The US president will be the second speaker, immediately after Lula, raising the possibility that the two leaders could cross paths behind the scenes in the plenary hall. Last year, they briefly encountered each other as Lula was leaving the stage after his speech and Trump was preparing to deliver his address.

Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva on Wednesday (Sep. 16) signed into law a bill establishing the National Policy on Critical and Strategic Minerals. The law allocates up to BRL 7 billion in investments through incentives for projects involving the research, extraction, and processing of these minerals.

“Mining requires intensive investment and production cycles that often span 40 years. Therefore, predictability and stability – especially fiscal stability – are vital to attracting long-term investment,” said Pablo Cesário of the Brazilian Mining Institute.

Notícias relacionadas:

• Brazil seeks partnership with Europe for critical mineral mining.

The law establishes the Mineral Activity Guarantee Fund (FGAM) with a BRL 2 billion contribution from the federal government for projects and activities related to the production of critical and strategic minerals. The fund may only support projects deemed a priority under the policy.

Brazil’s Minister of Mines and Energy Alexandre Silveira noted that the new law play a key role in helping Brazil gain a better understanding of its resources. “Brazil will gain in-depth knowledge of its resources and preserve its decision-making authority over its production chains,” he said.

The Geological Service of Brazil, he went on to say, will see its budget increase from BRL 8 million to BRL 300 million to fund soil research.

Sovereignty

After signing the bill, President Lula advocated for investment in training new professionals for a market that promises to expand. He invited universities and federal institutes to participate in developing new degree programs “so that we are not second to anyone in the world in terms of training.”

The president emphasized the importance of having a developed mining market, with industrialization and refining as well as production technology in Brazil. He then stated that there are “traitors to the nation” who wanted to sell critical minerals in their raw state to the US “for a song, just as they did with iron ore.”

“We will not allow history to repeat itself. Let Brazil’s enemies understand once and for all – our sovereignty is not for sale. Brazil’s wealth has only one owner – the Brazilian people.”

Critical minerals

Lula also signed the decree establishing the National Council for the Industrialization of Critical and Strategic Minerals. The council will be responsible for coordinating, planning, and monitoring national policy. Its role will be to propose public policies and actions aimed at developing production chains for critical and strategic minerals.

Critical minerals and rare earth elements are indispensable supplies for the technology, automotive, and defense industries, as well as for achieving the energy transition.

Critical minerals are those whose supply may involve various risks – geographic concentration of production, dependence on foreign sources, geopolitical instability, technological limitations, supply disruptions, and difficulty in finding substitutes.

Rare earth elements are a specific group of critical minerals. They consist of 17 chemical elements found scattered throughout nature, which makes them difficult to extract. They are essential for wind turbines, smartphones, electric cars, and defense systems.

With approximately 21 million metric tons, Brazil’s rare earth reserves are the second largest ever mapped in the world, trailing only China, which holds approximately 44 million metric tons. However, only about 25 percent of the country’s territory has been mapped, indicating enormous untapped potential.

The definition of which minerals are strategic or critical changes from country to country. The list may also change over time, depending on technological advances, geological discoveries, geopolitical shifts, and changes in demand. Rare earth elements, in turn, may also be considered critical or strategic minerals depending on the context.

Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva on Wednesday (Sep. 9) called for a “complete lifting of the confidentiality in the investigations of all those involved in the [Banco] Master case.” Lula described the matter as “the biggest financial crime in Brazil’s history.” His remarks come amid a serious crisis among Supreme Court justices involving decisions related to the probes and former banker Daniel Vorcaro.

In a social media post, Lula called for the measure to be taken “urgently.”

Notícias relacionadas:

• Billions frozen in crackdown on Brazil’s biggest bank fraud case.
• Brazil’s Central Bank tightens rules for virtual asset firms.

“The Brazilian people need explanations and immediate measures to address the institutional crisis that has taken hold of the judiciary,” he said.

The president called for transparency and criticized selective leaks that are impacting the election. He argued that the confidentiality of investigations must be fully lifted, “no matter who it is, no matter who it hurts.”

“Brazil needs to know the truth,” the post concludes saying.

Million-dollar fraud

The crisis at the Supreme Court came to light when Justice André Mendonça lifted the confidentiality of partial reports from Operation Compliance Zero – in which he serves as rapporteur – which targets corruption by public officials and billion-dollar financial fraud allegedly committed by Vorcaro.

The released material contains 52 messages that investigators say were sent by Vorcaro to Justice Alexandre de Moraes. In them, the former banker demonstrates close ties to the justice and appears to have forwarded to him a BRL 131 million contract between Master and the law firm of Viviane Barci de Moraes, the justice’s wife.

To date, Justice Moraes has denied any contact with the former banker. Following the release of the material, the justice made public an “intelligence report” from the Federal Police in which Mendonça suggests targeting political opponents in the handling of the Master case.

Brazil on Monday (Aug. 31) reiterated its dissatisfaction with the tariffs imposed by the United States and stated that Washington’s measures are discriminatory and incompatible with international trade rules.

This position was presented by Foreign Minister Mauro Vieira and Minister of Development, Industry, Trade, and Services Márcio Elias Rosa during a virtual meeting with US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer.

Notícias relacionadas:

• Brazil, US to discuss tariffs at WTO.
• Brazil says US tariffs violate WTO rules.
• Brazil seeks to expand trade with Indian companies.

In a joint statement, the ministries deemed the treatment of Brazil unfair and said that the justifications presented in the US investigations do not reflect actual Brazilian practices.

“Once again, [Ministers Mauro Vieira and Márcio Elias Rosa] pointed out that the justifications presented by the US government in the conclusions of the investigations conducted under Section 301 of the US Trade Act do not reflect actual Brazilian practices, and that the discriminatory treatment imposed on Brazil is unfair,” the two ministries emphasized in a joint statement.

Dialogue continues

Despite their differences, the two countries decided to continue negotiations. Technical meetings will be held in the coming weeks, either virtually or in person, followed by another ministerial meeting to assess progress.

The Brazilian government stated that it will continue to seek “a balanced and mutually beneficial agreement” with the United States, based on dialogue and respect for national sovereignty.

The resumption of talks follows a phone call between Presidents Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and Donald Trump on August 21. During the call, Lula once again contested the tariffs, and Trump proposed resuming negotiations.

Brazil is subject to an additional 25 percent tariff imposed specifically by the US government and another 12.5 percent surcharge, which Washington justified on grounds related to combating forced labor.

The first measure was based on an investigation by the Office of the US Trade Representative (USTR), which pointed to alleged unfair trade practices by Brazil in areas such as electronic payments (Pix) and access to the ethanol market. The Brazilian government rejects these arguments and considers the measure unjustified.

The dispute is also unfolding amid growing economic competition between the United States and China for influence in Latin America, adding a geopolitical dimension to the negotiations between Brasília and Washington.