Brazilian President shares a close rapport with Prime Minister Narendra Modi

Tensions between Brazil and the United States have deepened following Washington’s decision to revoke the visa of Brazilian Justice Minister Ricardo Lewandowski. President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, speaking at a cabinet meeting on Tuesday, sharply condemned the American move, describing it as an “irresponsible gesture” and affirming his solidarity with Lewandowski.

Lula asserted that Brazil would not accept being treated as a subordinate nation, stressing that his government was open to dialogue with all countries but only “on equal terms.” He warned that any attempts to diminish Brazil’s sovereignty or disrespect its institutions would not be tolerated.

This latest action escalates frictions that have already been steadily worsening under U.S. President Donald Trump’s second administration.

The row over Lewandowski’s visa is not an isolated episode. Earlier, the U.S. had taken punitive steps against Brazilian Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes, revoking his travel privileges and imposing financial sanctions in connection with his role in overseeing investigations into former far-right President Jair Bolsonaro.

U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent accused de Moraes of conducting politically motivated prosecutions, arbitrary detentions, and censorship campaigns in Brazil, charges that Brazilian officials firmly reject.

For Lula’s government, the targeting of senior figures in both the executive and judiciary represents a direct challenge to Brazil’s democratic institutions, as well as an affront to its sovereignty.

Relations between Brasilia and Washington have been in steady decline since Trump’s return to office in January 2025. His outspoken support for Bolsonaro, who is currently under house arrest facing charges of orchestrating a coup attempt after losing the 2022 presidential election, has been a flashpoint in the bilateral crisis.

Trump has publicly denounced Bolsonaro’s trial as a “witch hunt,” dismissing it as political persecution. Using his Truth Social platform, the U.S. president portrayed Bolsonaro as a victim of judicial overreach and a champion of “the people.” This stance aligns the U.S. administration with Bolsonaro’s supporters while placing Washington in direct conflict with Brazil’s current leadership.

The diplomatic stand-off has extended beyond symbolic gestures into tangible economic threats. In July, Trump issued a formal letter to Lula threatening to impose 50-percent tariffs on all Brazilian exports to the United States if what he perceives as unfair treatment of Bolsonaro continues.

Trump framed Brazil’s handling of the former president as an “international disgrace,” warning that unless the trial against Bolsonaro is halted, the U.S. would retaliate economically. Such a move would have profound implications for the Brazilian economy, given the United States’ status as one of its major trading partners.

Within Brazil, the American actions have sparked outrage across the political spectrum. Lula, while defending both Lewandowski and de Moraes, denounced any attempts to delegitimize the Brazilian judiciary and its democratic processes.

During his cabinet address, the president made it clear that these attacks were “unacceptable” not only against individual ministers or justices, but against the Brazilian state as a whole.

His framing of the issue as a matter of national dignity suggests that his administration is preparing for a more confrontational diplomatic stance toward Washington if such pressures persist.

The revocation of Lewandowski’s visa thus represents more than a bureaucratic measure; it is emblematic of a broader clash between the U.S. and Brazil rooted in ideological divides, disputes over sovereignty, and conflicting positions on Bolsonaro’s legacy.

While Washington insists it is defending democratic principles against alleged political persecution, Brasilia views the interventions as foreign interference designed to undermine its institutions and protect a disgraced former president.

As a result, the ongoing dispute has placed one of Latin America’s key global relationships in a precarious position, raising the risks of both diplomatic isolation and economic fallout for Brazil if tensions are not diffused.

Based On ANI Report