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Lula Suggests Age Gives Him Leverage in Discussions with Trump, Prioritizes Dialog with US
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Brazil’s President Luiz Inácio lula da Silva asserted on Friday, October 13th, that his seniority allows him to engage more directly with former U.S. President Donald Trump, while reaffirming Brazil’s commitment to resolving disputes through dialogue rather than conflict.
A Matter of Respect – and Age
During a speech at the launch ceremony of a new real estate credit model, Lula detailed a recent conversation with Trump, highlighting a playful exchange centered around their ages. “I turned 80 on the document on October 6th and that was the day I talked to Trump,” Lula stated. “I started the conversation with Trump by saying: I’m turning 80 years old and you’re going to turn 80 on June 14th. He’s eight months younger than me,so I’m old enough to talk rudely to him.”
Though, Lula quickly clarified that this playful banter did not reflect his intended approach to the relationship. He emphasized the importance of harmony between the leaders of the two largest democracies in the West. “We are both 80 years old and we govern the two largest democracies in the West, we cannot spread discord, disagreement to the ‘rest’ of the world. We need to convey harmony. Is there a disagreement? Let’s put it on the table,” he explained.
Prioritizing Diplomacy Over discord
The Brazilian President underscored that his administration is firmly focused on diplomatic solutions. “Brazil has no interest in fighting with the United States, with Bolivia, with Uruguay,” Lula declared. He articulated a pragmatic approach, suggesting that even a hypothetical victory in a conflict with the U.S. would be unproductive. “Why do I want to fight with the United States? And if we fight and if we win, what are we going to do? The best thing is not to fight. It’s better to sit at a table, talk for a while.”
Lula detailed ongoing negotiations led by key ministers – Alckmin, Haddad, and Mauro Vieira – to diversify Brazil’s trade relationships.He adopted a resilient stance, stating, “We’re not going to cry over the milk not spilled.If [Trump] doesn’t want to buy, we will sell in China, in Asia. We will sell in any country in the world.”
A Relationship Built on Mutual Respect
Lula also touched upon his broader philosophy of international relations, stating he avoids ideological considerations when dealing with foreign leaders. “I think we established a relationship that should never have been truncated because I have never treated the president of another country ideologically,” he saeid. “Those who have to deal with it ideologically are the peopel who elected him.I am not. I have to treat him with the respect of someone who was elected and he treats me with the respect of someone who was elected and be at peace.”
Drawing a parallel to domestic politics, Lula noted his ability to navigate disagreements, even referencing his support for a rival soccer team. “There is no forbidden topic to talk about with me,” he joked, adding, “I am a Corinthians fan, but I have many friends from Palmeiras. There is no more fanatical fan than the Palmeiras fans,but I treat them well. I like to live with disagreements, dealing with them democratically.”
Worth a look
