Lula’s Diplomatic Disrespects: Undermining 200 Years of U.S.-Brazil Relations
In 2024, Brazil and the United States marked the bicentennial of their diplomatic relations, a milestone that should have celebrated the enduring partnership between two of the Western Hemisphere’s largest democracies. The United States, the first nation to recognize Brazil’s independence from Portugal in 1822, has built a robust, if occasionally complex, relationship with Brazil, grounded in mutual interests like economic prosperity, democratic values, and regional stability. Yet, under President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, this historic moment has been overshadowed by a barrage of provocative and disrespectful rhetoric toward the United States. Lula’s relentless attacks on American policy, values, and leadership not only tarnish this 200-year legacy but also reveal an ideologically driven foreign policy that risks isolating Brazil globally.
A Legacy of Partnership Under Siege
The U.S.-Brazil relationship has endured challenges over two centuries, from trade disputes to ideological divergences, but it has thrived due to shared goals. In 2023, Presidents Joe Biden and Lula issued a joint statement reaffirming their commitment to democracy, human rights, and environmental cooperation, particularly in the Amazon. The U.S. is a major investor in Brazil, with nearly $200 billion in foreign direct investment in 2022, and a key trading partner, importing Brazilian goods like coffee, steel, and aircraft while exporting energy products and pharmaceuticals.
However, Lula’s third term, starting in 2023, has veered sharply from this cooperative spirit. Instead of leveraging the bicentennial to strengthen ties, Lula has used it to criticize the United States, blaming it for global conflicts, economic issues, and even Brazil’s domestic struggles. His populist rhetoric betrays a deep anti-Americanism, aligning with his broader agenda of cozying up to authoritarian regimes and challenging the Western-led international order. This approach undermines the diplomatic legacy he claims to uphold and threatens Brazil’s strategic interests.
Lula’s Anti-American Crusade
Lula’s attacks on the U.S. have been frequent and far-reaching, targeting its foreign policy, economic influence, and judicial system. In April 2023, he accused the U.S. of “encouraging” the war in Ukraine by supporting Kyiv against Russia’s invasion, urging Washington to “start talking about peace.” This statement, echoing Russian talking points, drew criticism from Western allies and ignored Brazil’s own UN condemnation of the invasion. Lula’s equivocation—blaming both Russia and Ukraine—reveals a moral relativism that undermines the sovereignty and international law he claims to support.
His criticism continued in May 2023, when he called U.S. sanctions on Venezuela “worse than a war,” accusing them of harming civilians. This exaggerated rhetoric overlooked the Venezuelan regime’s role in its own humanitarian crisis and signaled Lula’s intent to restore ties with Nicolás Maduro’s authoritarian government, further distancing Brazil from democratic partners. In September 2023, Lula denounced the U.S. embargo on Cuba as “illegal” and criticized Cuba’s inclusion on the U.S. list of state sponsors of terrorism, aligning with another anti-American regime.
More recently, in 2024, Lula’s rhetoric turned personal and inflammatory. He accused the U.S. of hypocrisy in handling international conflicts, particularly in Gaza, and claimed American leadership lacks the moral authority to set global norms. Conservative voices in Brazil have expressed frustration, with some arguing that Lula’s “empty rhetoric and cozying up to anti-American regimes” have damaged Brazil’s U.S. relations. Others have warned that Brazil lacks the geopolitical weight of China or Russia to challenge the U.S. without repercussions.
Most disappointingly, Lula transformed the bicentennial celebrations into a platform for grievances. Rather than highlighting shared achievements, he accused the U.S. of perpetuating a “colonial” global order. This leftist rhetoric dismisses the benefits of U.S.-Brazil cooperation, from trade to education, and alienates conservative Brazilians who value the U.S. as a partner.
The Hypocrisy of Lula’s “Sovereignty” Narrative
Lula’s supporters claim his U.S. criticisms reflect Brazil’s commitment to sovereignty and non-alignment, a tradition of avoiding great power rivalries. He has championed “cooperative multipolarity,” prioritizing the Global South and reducing Western dominance. Yet, this narrative falters under scrutiny. Lula’s selective outrage—condemning U.S. sanctions while ignoring China’s human rights abuses or Russia’s aggression—exposes an ideological bias rather than principled stance.
During his 2023 China visit, Lula signed 15 memoranda of understanding and declared that “no one would keep Brazil from improving its relationship with China,” a clear jab at the U.S. While Brazil can diversify its partnerships, Lula’s embrace of China—a nation known for exploiting economic dependencies—contrasts sharply with his vilification of the U.S., a consistent investor in Brazil’s economy. His claim to defend sovereignty also rings hollow when aligning with regimes like Venezuela and Iran, whose actions destabilize the region. Allowing two Iranian warships to dock in Rio de Janeiro in March 2023 raised concerns in Washington and underscored Lula’s willingness to provoke the U.S. for ideological gain.
The Consequences of Lula’s Recklessness
Lula’s anti-Americanism carries significant costs. Economically, Brazil depends on the U.S. as a market for exports and a source of investment, with $40 billion in U.S. exports to Brazil in 2024. Tensions with Washington could jeopardize these ties, especially under a U.S. administration less tolerant of Lula’s provocations. Former President Donald Trump’s threats of tariffs on Brazilian goods could harm Brazil’s agricultural and industrial sectors, and Lula’s promise of retaliatory tariffs risks escalating into a trade war Brazil’s fragile economy cannot sustain.
Diplomatically, Lula’s actions have weakened Brazil’s standing with Western allies. His failed Ukraine mediation efforts, criticized by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy as “destructive” for ignoring Ukraine’s territorial integrity, exposed the limits of his global peacemaker role. By alienating the U.S. and its allies, Lula risks marginalizing Brazil in international forums where it seeks to amplify the Global South’s voice.
Domestically, Lula’s rhetoric has deepened Brazil’s polarization. Conservative voters, who supported former President Jair Bolsonaro’s pro-U.S. stance, view Lula’s approach as a betrayal. Critics accuse him of “affronting the U.S. for two years” while ignoring his own ties to authoritarian regimes, potentially weakening his position ahead of the 2026 elections if economic fallout mounts.
A Path Forward: Restoring Respect
The bicentennial of U.S.-Brazil relations should have celebrated shared achievements and set a course for deeper cooperation. Instead, Lula has exploited it for political gain, scapegoating the U.S. for his administration’s shortcomings. His attacks on U.S. policy, sanctions, and leadership reflect a lack of respect for a historic partner and the Brazilian people, who bear the cost of his diplomatic missteps.
To rebuild this vital relationship, Lula must abandon divisive rhetoric and adopt a pragmatic approach prioritizing Brazil’s interests. This means valuing U.S. investment and trade, engaging constructively on issues like climate and democracy, and avoiding provocations that alienate allies. Brazil’s sovereignty is best served by balancing partnerships, not tilting toward authoritarian regimes offering little in return.
Conservatives in Brazil and beyond see Lula’s behavior as a betrayal of the principles sustaining U.S.-Brazil relations for two centuries. Mutual respect, not ideological posturing, is the bedrock of diplomacy. If Lula continues to deflect blame and provoke, he risks squandering Brazil’s global influence and leading the nation toward isolation and instability. The bicentennial deserved better. Brazil deserves better.
Sources:
– U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs, 2023
– Office of the United States Trade Representative, 2023
– Reuters, April 2023
– Agence France-Presse, May 2023
– Associated Press, September 2023
– The Guardian, March 2023
– X posts, July 2025
– Brazilian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, 2024
– The Wall Street Journal, 2023