Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva’s government said it condemns the threat of economic sanction and US military force against Brazil.
The statement by Itamaraty was released on Tuesday night after White House spokesman Karoline Leavitt claiming that President Donald Trump “is not afraid to use the economic and military power of the United States to protect freedom of expression around the world”:
-I have no additional action today (sanctions or rates) to anticipate you, but I can say that this is a priority for the government (ensuring freedom of expression), and the president (Trump) is not afraid to use the economic and military power of the United States to protect freedom of expression around the world-Karoline said on Tuesday afternoon at a press conference.
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In Itamaraty’s note, the Brazilian government countered the American threat by stating that “the first step in protecting freedom of expression is precisely to defend democracy and respect popular will expressed in the polls.”
Read the Itamaraty note in full:
“The Brazilian government condemns the use of economic sanctions or threats to use force against our democracy. The first step in protecting freedom of expression is precisely to defend democracy and respect popular will expressed in the ballot boxes. This is the duty of the three powers of the Republic, which will not be intimidated by any form of our sovereignty. national. ”
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White House Justification
During the same press conference, the White House spokesman stated that freedom of expression is the “most important question of our time” and that, for this reason, the US president adopted economic sanctions against Brazil:
– Freedom of expression is possibly the most important question of our time. He (Trump) takes this theme very seriously, which is why we adopt significant actions towards Brazil, both in the form of sanctions and in the use of tariffs, to ensure that citizens around the world are not treated in this way. At the same time, while the president uses the weight of the United States to protect our interests abroad, he also ensures that freedom of expression remains here in the United States of America – he said.
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Karoline Leavitt responded to a reporter, who questioned whether the US would be analyzing new penalties or increases in tariffs against the trial of former President Jair Bolsonaro (PL) in the Supreme Court. Jair Bolsonaro’s second week at the Supreme Court began on Tuesday. The former president and seven defendants are analyzed by attempted coup.
Last Friday, Donald Trump stated in the Oval Hall that the tariffs imposed on Brazil were imposed “from what the government was doing”, but did not specify what.
– We are very dissatisfied with Brazil. The rates are very high because of what they are doing, which is very unfortunate. We have a wonderful relationship with the Brazilian people, but the government of Brazil has changed radically. It has become a radical left, and this is hurting the country a lot. They are going very badly, ”said the Republican.
