In the year Brazil will host the UN COP30 climate negotiations in Belém, President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva called US President Donald Trump's decision to withdraw from the Paris Agreement “a step backward for human civilization” during a press conference at the Planalto Palace on Thursday (30).
The Brazilian president emphasized that he doesn't want COP30 to be a summit where “measures are approved, everything looks very nice on paper, and then no country complies,” criticizing wealthy nations for not fulfilling previous promises to donate billions of dollars to help develop nations deal with the consequences of climate change.
“We want something very real so that we can know if we are taking the climate issue seriously or not.”
Lula also said that he will reciprocate if Trump increases tariffs on Brazilian products. Brazil is one of the countries threatened by Trump with higher tariffs. “It's very simple: if he taxes Brazilian products, Brazil will reciprocate by taxing products exported from the United States,” he said.
Lula expressed his preference to improve relations with the United States and boost trade ties with Brazil's second-largest trading partner, after China. “I want to respect the United States and for Trump to respect Brazil. That's all,” he said.
Citing Trump's comments about retaking the Panama Canal or gaining control of Greenland, Lula said that “he just has to respect the sovereignty of other countries.” The Brazilian president also highlighted the global threats facing democracy.
“For me, democracy is the most important thing for humanity right now… Either we keep democracy working, or we'll have more authoritarian states than Hitler and fascism. Either we keep democracy working, or we will have more authoritarian states than Hitler and fascism. It's a very real thing for us to know whether we are taking the climate issue seriously or not.”
The Brazilian government had its first diplomatic tension with Donald Trump's administration in the White House after the arrival of Brazilian citizens deported from the US using handcuffs last weekend.
Following a meeting with the US Embassy in Brasília, the Brazilian Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced the creation of a working group to exchange information and improve the operationalization of return flights for undocumented Brazilians in the US, ensuring the safety and respectful treatment of passengers. Additionally, a direct communication line was established between group members to monitor future flights in real-time.
*With AFP
