President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva said this Thursday (8) that combating organized crime was one of the main subjects discussed during his meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump at the White House in Washington. In social media posts and statements to reporters after the meeting, Lula advocated broader international cooperation against drug and arms trafficking and money laundering.
According to Lula, Brazil is willing to expand public security cooperation with the United States, emphasizing the experience of the Federal Police in fighting criminal organizations. “We have an extraordinary Federal Police and extensive experience fighting drug and arms trafficking. Our customs authorities are already cooperating on this,” the president wrote on X (formerly Twitter).
The Brazilian head of state also said the federal government had established an integrated base in Manaus with representatives of police forces from South American countries to strengthen the fight against cross-border organized crime. Lula said the United States could join the initiative. “If the United States wants to participate with us, it is invited,” he declared.
Bilateral relations and international cooperation
After meeting Trump, Lula assessed that Brazil and the United States had taken “an important step” toward rebuilding bilateral relations. Speaking to journalists at the Brazilian Embassy in Washington, he said he was pleased with the meeting and emphasized the role of the continent’s two largest democracies.
“I leave here with the sense that we have taken an important step in consolidating the historic democratic relationship Brazil has with the United States,” he said.
Lula also stressed that closer ties between Brasília and Washington could serve as an international example. “Good relations between Brazil and the United States show the world that the continent’s two largest democracies can truly set an example for the world,” he said.
Fighting criminal factions and money laundering
The Brazilian president said combating organized crime cannot be limited to police crackdowns. In his view, authorities must also attack criminal organizations’ financial structures and offer economic alternatives to regions dependent on drug production.
“We also need to destroy the financial capacity of organized crime and criminal factions. This is another important area in which we are working and are willing to collaborate,” Lula wrote on social media.
During the Washington press conference, the president again advocated creating an international working group to combat criminal organizations, bringing together South American and Latin American countries and other interested nations. For Lula, the fight against drug trafficking must be coordinated, without unilateral impositions.
“Combating organized crime is not about the hegemony of one country or another. It is something that must be shared by everyone,” he said.
Lula also referred to weapons originating in the United States and money-laundering schemes operating on U.S. soil. “If we recognize this, put the truth on the table and create a working group to act together, we can solve in years what has not been solved in centuries,” he declared.
Tariffs, trade and multilateralism
Beyond security, the Lula-Trump meeting addressed trade issues and tariff disputes. The Brazilian president said he presented data showing that the United States had run a trade surplus with Brazil over the previous 15 years.
According to Lula, Brazil registered a US$14 billion bilateral trade deficit with the United States last year alone. He also disputed criticism that Brazil imposes excessively high tariffs on U.S. goods.
“The average tax we charge you is 2.7%. Just 2.7%,” he said.
Lula also said he had proposed a bilateral working group on trade and tariffs, with 30 days to present recommendations. “Whoever is wrong will give ground. If we have to give ground, we will. If you have to give ground, you will,” he declared.
Critical minerals and national sovereignty
Another topic at the meeting was the extraction of critical minerals and rare earths. Lula said he had told Trump about a proposal approved by Brazil’s Chamber of Deputies to establish a council linked to the Presidency to address the mineral sector.
The president stressed that Brazil intends to treat strategic minerals as an issue of national sovereignty and to improve knowledge of the country’s mineral potential.
“We have no preference. What we want is to build partnerships and share with American, Chinese, German, Japanese and French companies—anyone who wants to participate with us,” he said.
Lula said Brazil is seeking investment in the mining, processing and industrialization of strategic minerals, while emphasizing that the country will not give up its political autonomy.
“The one thing we will not give up is our democracy and our sovereignty. Everything else is open for discussion,” he declared.
A lighthearted conversation about the World Cup
Discussing the atmosphere of the meeting, Lula also recounted a lighthearted exchange with Trump about soccer and the World Cup. According to the Brazilian president, he joked with his U.S. counterpart about Brazil’s participation in the tournament.
“I hope you won’t revoke the Brazilian national team’s players’ visas. Please don’t do that, because we’re coming here to win the World Cup,” Lula said he told Trump.
According to Lula, Trump laughed at the joke, and the encounter ended on friendly terms. Lula again described the meeting as positive for both countries and said the dialogue opened the door to new joint initiatives in trade, security and investment.
Source: brasil247.com
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