Eu Day Light

Brazilian President Lula da Silva held a phone call with US President Trump.

According to Lula's statement, the August 21 call, which lasted about 1 hour and 20 minutes, covered relations between the two countries and issues on the global agenda.

The new tariffs imposed by the United States on Brazil were discussed during the call. Lula argued that the allegations cited as grounds for the tariffs, concerning deforestation, preferential agreements, intellectual property, anti-corruption efforts, the Pix payment system, ethanol and imports of goods produced with forced labor, were unfounded. Stating that the tariffs were negatively affecting both the Brazilian and US economies, Lula said continuing negotiations was in the interests of both countries.

Trump was also reported to have agreed on the need to preserve strong trade ties and proposed that teams from the two countries meet again as soon as possible.

Lula said Brazil was ready to strengthen cooperation with the United States in the fight against organized crime. Noting that criminal organizations exert pressure particularly on poorer segments of society, Lula argued that such groups should not be treated in the same category as terrorist organizations.

Lula said Brazil's strategy of cutting off financial resources in the fight against crime had led to the seizure of assets worth approximately 17 billion reais. He also referred to a plan to convert 138 prisons into high-security facilities.

Lula also said that the International Police Cooperation Center established in Manaus in the Amazon region brings together security officials from Amazonian countries. Trump was reported to have said that he would appoint senior officials to strengthen bilateral security cooperation.

The conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East were also discussed. Lula and Trump were reported to have exchanged views on the urgency of finding a negotiated solution to the Russia-Ukraine war.

During the call, in which Trump shared his assessments regarding a resolution to the conflict involving Iran, Lula criticized the ineffectiveness of the United Nations Security Council in addressing current crises.

Lula said he had proposed convening an extraordinary meeting of the United Nations Security Council to seek diplomatic solutions to global crises, adding that great leaders are those who end conflicts, not those who start wars.