Ruptly
"Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva once again defended his country's sovereignty and a relationship of equals with his US counterpart, Donald Trump, following the meeting they held last week in Washington. "That we can sit in front of a president like President Trump and tell him, 'I came here to discuss everything that Americans want to discuss with Brazil,' except democracy and sovereignty, because those are our business," Lula said during his visit to a fertiliser factory in the municipality of Camacari, state of Bahia, on Thursday, adding that 'nothing is more important for a country than to be its own master' and 'to have pride'. He went on to say that his government was prepared to negotiate with Washington on issues related to critical minerals, rare earths, and trade. However, he warned that Brazil would not accept being treated as inferior to any other country. Lula also defended a foreign policy based on equal relations with all powers. "Brazil has the size and greatness to speak on equal terms with Xi Jinping. Brazil has the size and greatness to speak on equal terms with Trump. Brazil has the size and greatness to speak with Putin," he noted. On the other hand, the president urged avoiding an escalation in tensions between the United States and China, particularly with regard to Taiwan. The island is backed by the US and is considered part of Chinese territory by Beijing. "We do not want a Cold War between the United States and China. We do not want a second Cold War," he stated. In this context, Lula emphasised China's growing importance as Brazil's main trading partner since 2008 and assured that the strengthening of bilateral relations was in line with Beijing's desire to invest in the South American nation."
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