Brazilian President Lula da Silva strongly condemned the conflict between the United States and Israel concerning Iran. Speaking to “Spiegel” Lula stated, “Trump was not elected the emperor of the world. It cannot be right that Trump starts a war with Iran, and the poor people in Africa or Latin America, who have to spend more money on beans, meat, and vegetables, are the ones who pay the price for this war”.
Lula also condemned the US military coup that abducted Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro, as well as US interference in Cuba. “People’s self-determination, territorial integrity, and sovereignty must not be jeopardized” Lula said. He added, “Just as Putin had no right to invade Ukraine, Trump has no right to intervene in Venezuela or threaten Cuba”.
Regarding Maduro’s successor, Delcy Rodríguez, Lula noted that she faces a difficult task. “She must find a way to pacify Venezuela and advance democratization” he commented. He speculated that if he were in her position, he would take office and announce elections within six months. However, he added, “But I cannot stand up and say what is good for Venezuela”.
He expressed his willingness to deliver medicine and food to Cuba to ease the supply crisis on the Caribbean island, but he declined to deliver oil shipments because shares of his oil company, Petrobras, are traded on Wall Street.
Concerning the EU-Mercosur free trade agreement, which is due to take effect on May 1st, Lula praised the deal. He acknowledged that Germany currently holds a trade surplus of seven billion dollars with Brazil, and stated that he aims for a balance in economic relations. Lula suggested that Brazil should focus on producing higher-quality goods for the German market.
The trip comes as the Brazilian president is scheduled to open the Hannover trade fair on Sunday, alongside Chancellor Friedrich Merz (CDU), where Brazil is participating as a partner country this year. Lula mentioned that relations between Germany and Brazil had soured late last year following remarks by Merz about the COP30 conference venue in Belém, Brazil, at the environmental conference. Lula recounted advising Merz at the time to visit a local restaurant to experience the local culture. He advised Merz that whenever he travels abroad, he should try local cuisines, recounting that he found himself eating a sausage from a street vendor the last time he was visiting Angela Merkel’s office.
When asked if he would run again in the October presidential election, Lula gave an evasive answer, saying, “It depends”. He noted that there will be a party congress where his party will discuss the key figures. He confirmed that he is preparing for this, stating, “My head and body are 100 percent fit. I want to live to be 120 years old”.
Citing current polls, a head-to-head contest is predicted between Lula and Flávio Bolsonaro, Jair Bolsonaro’s eldest son. Flávio Bolsonaro was sentenced to 27 years in prison last year for an attempted coup and is currently under house arrest for health reasons. Lula, however, voiced confidence, stating, “We will win this election. There is no room for fascists here. This right-wing ideology that rules the world has no future”.