Brazil's Lula sends message to Trump amid new tariffs: "We don't want a new Cold War"

New Delhi, India - Brazil's President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva on Sunday urged Donald Trump to treat all countries equally after the US leader imposed a 15% tariff on imports following an adverse Supreme Court ruling.

Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva speaks during a press conference in New Delhi, India, on February 22, 2026.
Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva speaks during a press conference in New Delhi, India, on February 22, 2026.  © REUTERS

"I want to tell the US President Donald Trump that we don't want a new Cold War. We don't want interference in any other country, we want all countries to be treated equally," Lula told reporters in New Delhi.

The conservative-majority Supreme Court on Friday ruled six to three that a 1977 law Trump has relied on to slap sudden levies on individual countries, upending global trade, "does not authorize the President to impose tariffs."

Lula said he would not like to react to Supreme Court decisions of another country, but hoped that Brazil's relations with the US "will go back to normalcy" soon.

Dog saved from side of busy California road in emotional rescue
Dogs Dog saved from side of busy California road in emotional rescue

The veteran leftist Brazilian leader is expected to travel to Washington next month for a meeting with Trump.

"I am convinced that Brazil-US relation will go back to normalcy after our conversation," Lula (80) said, adding Brazil only wanted to "live in peace, generate jobs, and improve lives of our people."

"The world doesn't need more turbulence"

Ties between Brazil and the US appear to be on the mend after months of animosity between Washington and Brasilia.

As a result, Trump's administration has exempted key Brazilian exports from 40% tariffs that had been imposed on the South American country last year.

"The world doesn't need more turbulence, it needs peace," said Lula who arrived in India on Wednesday to attend a summit on artificial intelligence.

On Saturday, India and Brazil agreed to boost cooperation on critical minerals and rare earths and signed a raft of other deals after a meeting between Lula and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Cover photo: REUTERS

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