Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva Condemned the Division of the World into “Spheres of Influence”
Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva condemned the division of the world into “spheres of influence” on Wednesday in Panama City, calling it a “historical setback” disguised as “neocolonialism.” At the opening of the Latin American and Caribbean Economic Forum, the progressive leader recalled that, amid the current context of global “rupture,” there was a time in history when the United States was a committed partner in the region’s development. “The use of force will never pave the way to overcome the scourges that afflict our region,” the Brazilian head of state affirmed. In this way, the Brazilian leader, who will seek a fourth term in the October elections, subtly criticized the strategy of the current US administration, headed by Donald Trump.
Lula da Silva Arrives in Panama, pictured above, for the CAF International Economic Forum. Javier Martínez Acha (left), and the President of Brazil, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (center).
Conversely, he recalled the Good Neighbor Policy promoted by Franklin D. Roosevelt during his presidency, which “replaced military intervention with diplomacy” in dialogue with Latin America. “The only war we need to wage is against hunger and inequality, and the only weapons should be investment, technology transfer, and fair and balanced trade,” he emphasized. Lula has condemned the U.S. military intervention in Venezuela, which culminated in the capture of Chavista leader Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, as well as the U.S. bombings of boats allegedly linked to drug trafficking in the Caribbean and the Pacific, which have left more than 100 dead.
Meanwhile, after a turbulent start to their relationship due to the imposition of high tariffs based on political motivations, Lula now maintains a fluid dialogue with Trump, and in a call they had this week, they agreed to meet in Washington next March. Furthermore, Lula emphatically defended Latin American integration, but said it will only be possible if the countries of the region have the “capacity to coexist with political diversity.” The Brazilian president also defended the “neutrality” of the Panama Canal in the face of the US push to regain control, stating that it was “administered efficiently, safely, and without discrimination.”
Lula spoke at the opening of the Latin American and Caribbean International Economic Forum, held in Panama City, which was also attended by other leaders from the region, such as José Raúl Mulino (Panama), Rodrigo Paz (Bolivia), Gustavo Petro (Colombia), Daniel Noboa (Ecuador), and Bernardo Arévalo (Guatemala), as well as the Prime Minister of Jamaica. Andrew Holness, and the elected ruler of Chile, José Antonio Kast.
