BRASÍLIA – Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has issued a blistering critique of Western military and economic dominance, declaring that the Global South will no longer submit to what he termed “new colonialism.”
The President’s defiant remarks followed recent military strikes against targets in Iran, an action Lula described as a violation of national sovereignty and a “war that nobody asked for.” Speaking at a recent regional summit, Lula directly challenged the authority of superpowers to interfere in the affairs of sovereign nations.
“We cannot allow someone to think they own the world,” Lula stated. “It is impossible for someone to get up in the morning and decide they are going to take the Panama Canal, Cuba, or Venezuela. That is not democratic.”
Lula drew explicit parallels between the current strikes on Iran and past interventions in Iraq and Libya, as well as the long-standing blockade of Cuba. He characterized these actions as a recurring pattern of plundering resources, ranging from gold and silver in the past to critical minerals and rare earths today.
The Brazilian leader has increasingly positioned himself as a spokesperson for a unified Global South, urging nations across Africa, Latin America, and Asia to bolster their own independence to prevent future interference. During a recent diplomatic meeting, Lula warned that emerging economies must stand firm or risk being colonized again by those seeking to control global resources.
Lula also took aim at the United Nations Security Council, accusing it of failing to prevent major conflicts and losing its moral authority on the global stage. He advocated for increased trade in local currencies to reduce dependency on the US dollar, calling it a necessary step for true national independenc
Despite his sharp rhetoric, Brasília is attempting a delicate balancing act, as high-level diplomatic visits with Western leaders remain on the 2026 calendar. However, Lula’s insistence that the world needs peace, not another Cold War, signals a major shift toward a more confrontational and autonomous foreign policy for the region.
