Notícias
INTERVIEW
President urges humanitarian treatment of Brazilians repatriated from U.S.
In a conversation with journalists, the president defended a two-state solution for Palestine and Israel. Image: Ricardo Stuckert / PR
President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva reiterated this Wednesday during an interview with radio stations in Minas Gerais that Brazil abides by the agreements regarding other countries' migration policies, but insists on enforcing national laws once aircraft carrying repatriated individuals land on Brazilian territory. "When the plane doors open, they are subject to Brazilian law, and we will handle this with care because we want Brazilians to be treated well," he said.
It is a matter of human rights. We will look after Brazilian citizens with care and respect, including medical assistance, as every human being should be treated"
Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, Presidente of the Republic
Lula referred to a flight carrying Brazilian nationals that landed in Manaus last week after experiencing pressurization issues, in which the repatriated individuals disembarked from the aircraft in chains and handcuffs. "Our Federal Police intervened, our Ministry of Foreign Affairs intervened, our Minister of Human Rights intervened, and we agreed that they could not be chained," the resident said. On that occasion, the Brazilians completed their return trip to Minas Gerais on a Brazilian Air Force aircraft, receiving food, water and dignified treatment.
"It is a matter of human rights. We will look after Brazilians citizens with care and respect," Lula reiterated, recalling the scheduled arrival in Fortaleza, Ceará, of a new flight carrying individuals repatriated from the United States next Friday. "We are attentive—the Federal Police, the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of Human Rights, and Itamaraty—so that we can ensure citizenship rights for these compatriots when they arrive in Brazil. That includes medical assistance, as every human being should be treated with care and respect."
GAZA - The Brazilian president disagreed with the statement made by U.S. President Donald Trump regarding a potential occupation of the Gaza Strip and the need for the nearly 2 million Palestinians in that territory to leave. Lula emphasized Brazil's long-standing support for a two-state solution. "We defend the creation of a Palestinian state, just like the State of Israel, and the establishment of a policy of harmonious coexistence, because that is what the world needs," said Lula. "It is the Palestinians who should take care of Gaza. What they need is compensation for everything that has been destroyed, so they can rebuild their homes, hospitals, schools, and live with dignity and respect."
BRICS - The Brazilian president also reinforced the geopolitical importance of the BRICS in the international geopolitical arena and the independence to discuss trade policies among its members. In 2025, Brazil holds the presidency of the group and will host the summit. “The BRICS represent almost half of the world’s population. Nearly half of global foreign trade. We discuss what is important to us. What is important to the world,” he declared. In addition to Brazil, the BRICS is composed of Russia, India, China, South Africa, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Ethiopia, and the United Arab Emirates as full members.
TRADE RELATIONS - Lula also emphasized that the country has a productive and diversified trade relationship with the United States and that he sees potential for that to continue a grow further, a perspective that Brazil shares with dozens of other nations. He highlighted the 200-year tradition of strong trade and diplomatic relations with the United States. “The world needs everyone. Just to give you an idea, Brazil has opened 303 new markets to export our products (in the past two years).”
EQUATORIAL MARGIN - In his conversation with the radio journalists, the president also mentioned the prospect of surveying the potential of the so-called equatorial margin in the north of the country for oil and fuel exploration. ''We need to do things clearly, with studies, because we must take care of the country. We want the oil because it will exist for a long time. We must use the oil to make our energy transition, which will require a lot of money,' the president stressed. Lula recalled that Guyana and Suriname are already prospecting in the region and that Brazil intends to find a solution that guarantees to its citizens and to the world that everything will be done in strict compliance with environmental and safety regulations. “Petrobras is the company with the greatest capacity for deepwater exploration. We have an extraordinary example of not harming to the environment. We, the government, must find a solution to explore this wealth, if it exists, for the benefit of the Brazilian people,” said the president.