Lula defends governments of Cuba and Venezuela at PT event in Salvador
President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva defended the governments of Cuba and Venezuela this Saturday and criticized what he classified as threats from the United States government against the two countries. He also told China’s ambassador to Brazil that the US is acting to limit Chinese access to critical minerals. The statements were made during the event celebrating the 46th anniversary of the PT, held in Salvador.
— Our country is in solidarity with the Cuban people, who are victims of a massacre of speculation by the United States against them and we have to find, as a party, a way to help. We have to say, loud and clear, that Venezuela’s problem has to be solved by the people of Venezuela and not by the United States or Trump — said Lula.
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The president was referring to the deposition of Venezuelan dictator Nicolás Maduro, who on January 3 was captured with his wife, Cilia Flores, in an American military operation in Caracas. The couple is now imprisoned in New York, where they are facing justice in the United States for their alleged involvement in drug trafficking. Since then, the US has supported the government of Maduro’s deputy, Delcy Rodríguez. More recently, however, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said that Delcy Rodríguez “could suffer the same fate” as Maduro if he did not collaborate with the US.
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Venezuela sent its ambassador to Brazil to the PT event in Salvador, as did China and Belarus.
In the case of Cuba, Trump has increased pressure on the regime that has governed the Caribbean island since the 1950s. At the end of January, for example, the American president signed an executive order that threatens to impose additional tariffs on exports from countries that supply oil to Cuba, a measure aimed at worsening the fuel shortage in the country. The island has suffered an economic crisis, blackouts and shortages.
Lula also said again that he defends Brazil’s sovereignty, in reference to the country’s negotiation with the United States to suspend the 50% tariff imposed on Brazilian exports, as well as US diplomatic sanctions on Brazilian authorities.
— We have to say, loud and clear, to anyone who wants to listen: our country is a sovereign country. We want to work with everyone, but we don’t want to be colonized again — said the president.
In recent months, since Trump and Lula began negotiations, the American side has expanded tariff exemptions and suspended the effects of the Magnitsky Law (which blocks assets) on Minister Alexandre de Moraes, of the Federal Supreme Court, and his wife. However, there are still high tariffs on industrial exports from Brazil, as well as US visas revoked by government authorities.
Lula also thanked the presence of the Chinese ambassador to Brazil, Zhu Qingqiao, at the PT event, and told him that there is a US movement to restrict Chinese access to rare earths and critical minerals.
— Now, Ambassador, every conversation and every meeting is to prevent countries from selling rare earths and critical minerals to China. It’s a half-hidden fight, but everything is against China and I want to say that I am very grateful to the partnership we have with China because it is a respectful and successful partnership – he said.
