Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva ended his visit to China on Saturday with a controversial statement on the conflict in Ukraine, which has put the country on a collision course with the United States and the European Union. At a press conference in Beijing, Lula said that the US should stop "encouraging war" in Ukraine "and start talking about peace." He also criticized the sanctions imposed by Western countries against Russia after Moscow's invasion of Ukrainian territory.
Lula, who returned to power in January of this year after defeating far-right President Jair Bolsonaro in the 2022 elections, has pursued a balanced and pragmatic foreign policy that strengthens ties with Brazil's main trading partners, such as China, but also seek rapprochement with Washington. He met US President Joe Biden in February and expressed his support for democracy and human rights.
However, his stance on Ukraine reveals a rift with the US and the EU, which consider Russia the main aggressor in the region and defend Ukraine's right to preserve its sovereignty and territorial integrity. Lula, in turn, proposed the creation of a group of countries to mediate the war, and said he would discuss this idea with Chinese President Xi Jinping, who has also maintained a neutral stance in relation to the conflict.
Lula's initiative can be seen as an attempt to rescue Brazil's role as a relevant global player and defender of peace and multilateralism. During his first term as president, between 2003 and 2010, Lula led an active and prestigious diplomacy, which expanded Brazil's presence on the international stage and brought it closer to emerging countries such as China, India and South Africa. He has also participated in crisis mediation efforts such as Iran's nuclear program and the coup d'état in Honduras.
However, his proposal can also be seen as a way of opposing US interests in the region and defending greater autonomy for developing countries. Lula is a historic critic of US foreign policy, which he accuses of interfering in the internal affairs of other nations and promoting unjust wars. He is also an admirer of Russian President Vladimir Putin, whom he has called "a great leader" and "a personal friend".
Lula's statement on Ukraine could have consequences for Brazil's relations with the US and the EU, which could see the country as an unreliable ally or even an obstacle to resolving the crisis. On the other hand, it can strengthen Brazil's ties with China, which is the country's biggest trading partner and an important investor in strategic sectors such as energy, infrastructure and technology. China is also one of the main suppliers of vaccines against Covid-19 for Brazil, which is facing a serious pandemic.
Lula will have to deal with these diplomatic challenges in the coming months as he tries to consolidate his domestic popularity and advance his social and economic agenda. He will also have to prepare for the 2026 presidential elections, in which he could run for re-election or support a candidate from his party. His main opponent will probably be Bolsonaro, who has already announced his intention to run in the election and has harshly criticized Lula's foreign policy.