Lula challenges Marco Rubio over his stance on Brazil

The trade war between Brazil and the United States has a new chapter — and a new protagonist. Brazilian president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva took aim this Friday at US Secretary of State Marco Rubio over the escalation of the bilateral conflict, during the presentation of preliminary Amazon deforestation data.

Lula’s move was surgical: he separated the president from his secretary.

“Much respect” for Trump, darts for Rubio

Despite the tensions, Lula said his relationship with Donald Trump is one of “much respect” and revealed that he insisted that, as presidents of the continent’s two largest democracies, they should “convey a certain harmony to the world” instead of relying on “misinformation.”

The blow came after: “But he (Trump) has a citizen who does not like Brazil, who does not like Latin America, and who is a Bolsonarist: the Secretary of State, Marco Rubio,” Lula said.

The term is not casual: Jair Bolsonaro, Lula’s historic rival, is an ideological ally of Rubio. The phrase condenses Brasilia’s reading: the harshness of trade policy does not come from the White House but from the State Department.

What comes next

The trade conflict between Brazil and the US has worsened in recent weeks, and diplomatic crises also extend to Brazil’s relationship with Argentina. Lula, meanwhile, keeps dosing: firm with Rubio, deferential with Trump.

The key figure

“A Bolsonarist.” Two words that summarize, according to Lula, who is behind the trade conflict — and confirm that Brazilian diplomacy has already chosen its target.