Лула: Бразилия и Южная Африка должны сосредоточиться на автономии для самообороны

President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva told South African President Cyril Ramaphosa on Monday (9) that the two countries should focus on autonomy and strengthening themselves through the production of military equipment for self-defense. "If we don't prepare ourselves in terms of defense, one day someone will invade us. Brazil has similar needs to South Africa. Therefore, let's combine our potential and see what we can build together,“ said Lula, when receiving Ramaphosa at the Planalto Palace in Brasilia. ”We don't need to keep buying from the ‘Lords of Arms’. We can produce. No one is going to help us except ourselves," he pointed out. The Brazilian president argued that the two countries of the Global South should form a strategic partnership to become a relevant market for the defense industry. Lula's statement was made after the signing of bilateral agreements in the areas of tourism, foreign trade, and industry at the Planalto Palace. The South African president's visit to Brazil runs until Tuesday (10). Lula also reiterated South America's peaceful profile and that the technologies have civilian uses. "Here in South America, we position ourselves as a region of peace. Here, no one has nuclear bombs or atomic bombs. Our drones are for agriculture, science, and technology, not for war.” Follow Agência Brasil on WhatsApp Lula also expressed his “deep concern” about the escalating conflict in the Middle East, which, according to the president, poses a serious threat to international peace and security. “Dialogue and diplomacy are the only viable path to building a lasting solution.” President Lula stated that, due to the war against Iran, oil prices have already been rising almost everywhere and are likely to rise even further. Lula also highlighted the humanitarian and economic impacts of the conflict that began on February 28, after the United States and Israel launched a coordinated attack on Iran. The bombings killed Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, and nearly two hundred people in Tehran. "These conflicts have deleterious effects on energy, supply, and food chains. «Наиболее уязвимыми являются женщины и дети, которые страдают от наиболее серьезных последствий этих кризисов», — заявил Лула. Во время пресс-конференции бразильский президент пояснил, что Бразилия имеет потенциал для добычи важнейших минералов, которые считаются необходимыми для происходящего энергетического и цифрового перехода. Президент Лула также сказал президенту Южной Африки, что необходимо переосмыслить роль добычи природных ресурсов на территории. «Мир уже предупрежден, что Бразилия не будет поступать с редкоземельными элементами и критически важными минералами так, как поступила с железной рудой. Мы продали руду и купили готовую продукцию, заплатив в 100 раз больше». По мнению президента Лулы, путь лежит через укрепление производственных цепочек горнодобывающей промышленности обеих стран на основе знания о минеральном потенциале обеих наций. «Хватит! Они уже забрали все наше серебро, все наше золото, все наши алмазы, всю нашу железную руду. Что еще они хотят забрать? When will we learn that God has given us all this wealth and we keep giving it away to others?" he asked. Lula emphasizes that it is not a matter of political decision-making, but that it is necessary to take advantage of the exploitation of critical minerals to improve the living conditions of the population. President Lula confirmed that on April 18, he will be in Barcelona (Spain) at the invitation of Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez for the fourth meeting In Defense of Democracy. We want to bring our countries closer together on issues such as digital environment regulation, artificial intelligence, and the promotion of quality information sources, including both domestic policies and coordination to strengthen this agenda in the multilateral environment." Finally, Lula emphasized that Brazil and South Africa share the conviction that the Global South should have an active voice in major international decisions.