President Lula Emphasizes Trump Has No Right to Threaten Other Countries

President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva. (Wikimedia Commons/Senado Federal)

JAKARTA - Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva criticized President Donald Trump, saying the US leader "has no right" to threaten other countries, in an interview published in Spain on Thursday.

President Lula's comments came after President Trump this month warned that "the whole civilization will die" in Iran if the country does not open the Strait of Hormuz.

"Trump has no right to wake up in the morning and threaten a country," President Lula told Spanish daily El Pais, recalling that the US Constitution divides authority over war and foreign policy between Congress and the president, launching Al Arabiya from AFP (16/4).

"It is very important that the ruling leaders take greater responsibility in maintaining peace," added the 80-year-old president.

It is known that Lula and Trump (79) are on opposite sides on issues including multilateralism, international trade, and the fight against climate change.

Brasilia-Washington relations remain tense, despite a meeting between the leaders last year that helped ease tensions and led to a reduction in trade tariffs.

On the same occasion, President Lula again called for reform of the UN Security Council, including the abolition of the veto rights held by the five permanent members and the inclusion of more countries from Africa and Latin America.

"It's time to redefine the United Nations to give it credibility, otherwise Trump is right," he said, referring to the US president's criticism that the post-World War II international system is no longer effective.

President Lula spoke to the newspaper ahead of his visit to Spain, where he will meet with Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez and attend a forum of progressive leaders.

Other participants in the meeting in Barcelona on Saturday include Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa.