A Friendly Trump-Lula Encounter Could Pave the Way for a Thaw in U.S.-Brazil Relations
A Friendly Trump-Lula Encounter Could Pave the Way for a Thaw in U.S.-Brazil Relations
Donald Trump's UNGA remarks may indicate that the U.S. is trying a different strategy with Brazil, says AS/COA's Brian Winter to AP.
Brazil’s President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva used his speech at the United Nations General-Assembly to criticize the unilateral moves by his U.S. counterpart, Donald Trump. He will leave with a pledge to discuss tariffs with the American leader — and a political win against his predecessor Jair Bolsonaro, who used to gloat about his access to the White House.
Lula and Trump have been at odds since July, when the U.S. leader imposed a 50% tariff on many Brazilian exports citing alleged persecution against Bolsonaro, who was recently sentenced to 27 years in prison. But a brief, friendly exchange Tuesday in New York City, when they embraced and spoke for the first time, opened the door for a potential shift in U.S. policy towards Brazil.
“He seemed like a very nice man, actually,” Trump said of Lula after the encounter. “He liked me, I liked him.”
Brian Winter, a Brazil expert and editor-in-chief of Americas Quarterly, said Trump’s friendly remarks may be the sign of a different approach.
“It is possible that... they see that the tariffs and other measures seem to have strengthened Lula, damaged some U.S. companies and not helped former President Bolsonaro and his legal case,” Winter said...
