I've no relationship with Trump, Brazil's President Lula tells BBC

[ad_1] Ione Wells South America correspondent in Brasília and

Leandro Prazeres BBC Information Brasil

Watch: Brazil's Lula talks Trump, US tariffs and oil in BBC interview

Brazil's President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has advised the BBC in an unique interview that he has "no relationship" with US President Donald Trump.

Lula has steadily criticised Trump, however that is the clearest sign but that he thinks communication between him and his US counterpart is now damaged.

Although the US has a commerce surplus with Brazil, Donald Trump imposed 50% tariffs on Brazilian items in July, citing the trial on coup costs of Brazil's right-wing former president Jair Bolsonaro as a set off.

Lula described the tariffs as "eminently political" and stated US shoppers can be dealing with larger costs for Brazilian items in consequence.

The tariffs imposed by Trump have hit Brazilian exports to the US, like espresso and beef, which Lula stated would turn out to be costlier: "The American individuals can pay for the errors President Trump is incurring in his relationship with Brazil."

The 2 leaders have by no means spoken straight to one another. When pushed on why he had not simply tried to select up the cellphone or kind a relationship, President Lula stated: "I by no means tried that decision as a result of he by no means needed to have a dialog."

Trump has beforehand stated that Lula can "name him anytime." However Lula insisted that members of the Trump Administration "don't need to speak".

He advised the BBC that he had came upon in regards to the US tariffs from Brazilian newspapers.

Referring to Trump, he stated that the US president "did not talk in a civilised method. He simply printed them [the tariffs] on his portal - on social media."

When requested how he would describe his relationship along with his US counterpart he merely stated: "There is not any relationship."

'He isn't emperor of the world!'

Lula stated that his poor relations with the US chief have been the exception, itemizing how he had constructed relationships with former US presidents, UK prime ministers, the EU, China, Ukraine, Venezuela and "all of the international locations on the planet".

The Brazilian president attended the World Warfare Two anniversary celebrations in Russia this 12 months and has not minimize ties with President Putin. Requested who he had a greater relationship with - Trump or Putin - he defended his ties to the latter, saying they'd fashioned them after they had each been presidents "in earlier occasions".

"I haven't got a relationship with Trump as a result of when Trump was elected the primary time, I wasn't president. His relationship is with Bolsonaro, not Brazil," Lula responded.

He additionally stated that if he handed Trump at subsequent week's United Nations Normal meeting he would "greet him as a result of I'm a civilised citizen", however added that Trump could also be "president of america, [but] he isn't emperor of the world!".

The BBC approached the White Home for touch upon Lula's criticism of Trump however had not but obtained a response on the time of publishing.

<img sizes="(min-width: 1280px) 50vw, (min-width: 1008px) 66vw, 96vw" srcset="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/240/cpsprodpb/6bef/live/eaf52a30-93fd-11f0-88f9-857a462f652e.jpg.webp 240w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/320/cpsprodpb/6bef/live/eaf52a30-93fd-11f0-88f9-857a462f652e.jpg.webp 320w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/6bef/live/eaf52a30-93fd-11f0-88f9-857a462f652e.jpg.webp 480w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/640/cpsprodpb/6bef/live/eaf52a30-93fd-11f0-88f9-857a462f652e.jpg.webp 640w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/800/cpsprodpb/6bef/live/eaf52a30-93fd-11f0-88f9-857a462f652e.jpg.webp 800w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1024/cpsprodpb/6bef/live/eaf52a30-93fd-11f0-88f9-857a462f652e.jpg.webp 1024w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1536/cpsprodpb/6bef/live/eaf52a30-93fd-11f0-88f9-857a462f652e.jpg.webp 1536w" src="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/6bef/live/eaf52a30-93fd-11f0-88f9-857a462f652e.jpg.webp" loading="eager" alt="Brazil's President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, in a red spotted tie, dark blue suit and light blue shirt, sits in the presidential palace for an interview with the BBC" class="sc-86c96223-0 fHZDyi"/> The BBC approached the White Home for touch upon Lula's criticism of Trump

He additionally spoke about his predecessor in workplace, Jair Bolsonaro, who was convicted final week.

A 4-1 majority of justices on Brazil's Supreme Courtroom discovered the ex-president responsible of plotting a coup after dropping the election to Lula and sentenced him to 27 years in jail.

Lula advised the BBC that Bolsonaro and his co-conspirators had "damage the nation, tried a coup, and plotted my demise".

Referring to the appeals Bolsonaro's attorneys stated they might lodge, Lula stated that he hoped that Bolsonaro would proceed "to current his defence" however that "for now he's responsible".

He additionally criticised Trump for "inventing untruths" by claiming Bolsonaro was being persecuted and denouncing what the US chief stated was a scarcity of democracy in Brazil.

Lula additionally advised the BBC that if the 6 January Capitol riots had occurred in Brazil fairly than within the US, Trump would have been placed on trial.

Within the wide-ranging BBC interview, he additionally advocated for reform of the United Nations.

He criticised the truth that 5 international locations - the everlasting members of the UN Safety Council - have the ability to veto choices and argued that this tilted the stability in favour of those that gained World Warfare Two, excluding nations representing billions of individuals like Brazil, Germany, India, Japan, in addition to African international locations.

The consequence, he stated, was that the UN did not "have the energy to resolve conflicts" and the 5 everlasting members made "unilateral" choices about going to warfare.

<img sizes="(min-width: 1280px) 50vw, (min-width: 1008px) 66vw, 96vw" srcset="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/240/cpsprodpb/f21b/live/36e48e90-93fe-11f0-88f9-857a462f652e.jpg.webp 240w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/320/cpsprodpb/f21b/live/36e48e90-93fe-11f0-88f9-857a462f652e.jpg.webp 320w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/f21b/live/36e48e90-93fe-11f0-88f9-857a462f652e.jpg.webp 480w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/640/cpsprodpb/f21b/live/36e48e90-93fe-11f0-88f9-857a462f652e.jpg.webp 640w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/800/cpsprodpb/f21b/live/36e48e90-93fe-11f0-88f9-857a462f652e.jpg.webp 800w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1024/cpsprodpb/f21b/live/36e48e90-93fe-11f0-88f9-857a462f652e.jpg.webp 1024w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1536/cpsprodpb/f21b/live/36e48e90-93fe-11f0-88f9-857a462f652e.jpg.webp 1536w" src="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/f21b/live/36e48e90-93fe-11f0-88f9-857a462f652e.jpg.webp" loading="lazy" alt="Getty Images Brazil's President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and Vladimir Putin walk through a gold-encrusted palace in Moscow, smiling at one another" class="sc-86c96223-0 fHZDyi"/> Getty Photographs Lula travelled to Moscow for World Warfare Two victory celebrations in Could

He defended his continued alliances with Russia and China – two nations the place unfair elections and human rights abuses have been documented – whereas calling for a extra "democratic" UN.

Pressed on Brazil's persevering with purchases of Russian oil whereas Russia wages warfare in Ukraine, he stated Brazil was one of many first international locations to sentence Russia's occupation of Ukraine and that "Brazil would not finance Russia, we purchase oil from Russia as a result of we have to purchase oil identical to China, India, the UK or the US wants to purchase oil".

He stated that if the UN was "functioning" then neither the Ukraine warfare nor the Gaza warfare - which he described as "not a warfare" however a "genocide" - would have occurred.

The BBC additionally requested President Lula about November's COP30 local weather summit, when Brazil will host world leaders within the Amazon metropolis of Belém.

Domestically, the Brazilian president has confronted criticism over his assist for exploratory drilling for oil close to the mouth of the Amazon River.

Brazil's state oil firm Petrobas and different corporations have purchased blocks for exploration and are awaiting licenses.

His personal surroundings minister, Marina Silva, has strongly opposed the plans and a few conservation teams concern it might threat oil spills in waters near the Amazon.

President Lula insisted Brazil was strictly following the regulation in its analysis and if there have been any oil spills then "Brazil can be liable and accountable and maintain any drawback".

He added that he supported a world with out fossil fuels however "this second has not come but".

"I need to know of any nation that's ready to have an vitality transition and able to giving up fossil fuels," he replied. However the challenge has confirmed controversial with left-wing voters.

Lula, who's 79, stated he had not but determined if he would run for re-election within the 2026 presidential elections.

He stated that his well being and his social gathering would decide that – in addition to whether or not it was politically opportune and whether or not he stood an opportunity of successful.