Lula Tells Trump: US Has No Right to Impose Its Will on Other Countries

Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has criticised US President Donald Trump’s approach to international relations, arguing that while Trump has the mandate to govern the United States, he does not have the authority to dictate how other countries should conduct their affairs.

Lula made the remarks during an interview with CNN’s Christiane Amanpour in New York ahead of the 81st United Nations General Assembly.

The Brazilian president said countries should respect one another’s sovereignty and resolve disagreements through dialogue and negotiations rather than allowing powerful nations to impose their decisions on others.

“President Trump was elected to be the US president. He has the right to govern. But he doesn’t have the right to govern other countries,” Lula said.

He stressed that Brazil was not seeking a confrontation with Washington but expected its sovereignty and national interests to be respected.

Lula also criticised what he described as an approach to international relations based heavily on military and economic strength, saying countries should not be expected to follow the wishes of more powerful nations.

He called for greater multilateral cooperation, arguing that international disputes should be addressed collectively rather than through unilateral decisions by powerful countries.

The comments come amid trade tensions between Brazil and the United States. Lula said his government remained open to negotiations with Washington and had so far refrained from activating Brazil’s reciprocity law in response to US tariffs while discussions continue.

The Brazilian president also spoke about the country’s 2026 presidential election, saying Brazil’s political future should be determined by its citizens without interference from foreign governments.

Lula said there were concerns about possible external interference but noted that there was, at that point, no concrete evidence establishing that such interference had taken place.

Despite the disagreements between Brasília and Washington, Lula said Brazil should not be viewed as anti-American. He emphasised the long-standing diplomatic relationship between the two countries and said Brazil remained committed to dialogue, negotiations and cooperation.

However, he maintained that Brazil would resist any attempt by another country to impose decisions on its government or interfere in its domestic affairs.