Brazilian President Urges U.S. to Respect Sovereignty

(MENAFN) Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has called on the United States to cease behaving like an empire and to start honoring the independence of other nations.

His remarks came as a response to U.S. President Donald Trump's warning about new tariffs on countries "aligning" with BRICS.

On Monday, Trump posted on Truth Social that the U.S. would levy an extra 10 percent tariff on any nation "aligning themselves with the Anti-American policies of BRICS."

This announcement coincided with the conclusion of the BRICS annual summit held in Rio de Janeiro, which involved ten member countries, including Russia, China, Brazil, India, and South Africa.

Addressing reporters at the end of the summit, Lula criticized Trump's approach, saying, "I don’t think it’s responsible or serious for the president of a country as large as the United States to be threatening the world over the internet."

He emphasized that the global landscape has evolved and stated, "We don’t want an emperor. We are sovereign nations. If he believes he can impose tariffs, then we have the right to respond with tariffs of our own."

Lula further emphasized that international relationships should rest on mutual respect.

He added, "And people need to understand what sovereignty truly means. Each country is the master of its own destiny."

MENAFN08072025000045017167ID1109772592