Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has officially launched a bid for a fourth term at the São Paulo convention centre on Sunday.
The veteran politician, who returned to power in 2023 after serving two terms from 2003 to 2010, announced that he was running for the presidency for a seventh time.
At the convention, he told reporters that if he wins the bid in October, this would be his final term.
Instead of focusing on domestic issues and records, Lula noted Brazil’s place in an increasingly unstable world.
He said the country needs to spend more on defence to protect the country’s reserves of rare earths and other critical minerals from foreign control.
“I want to be prepared so that no one invades this country,” Lula said.
He directly addressed the US, China and France, saying the country would not allow them to access or control the country’s mineral wealth without respecting its sovereignty.
His address reflects growing tensions between Brazil and the United States. Washington has now slapped two rounds of tariffs on Brazilian goods earlier in July, citing unfair trade practices – allegations that Lula’s government denies.
Trump has maintained close ties with the family of Lula’s main opponent, Senator Flavio Bolsonaro, the eldest son of the former and jailed President Jair Bolsonaro.
“In Brazil, we do not accept anyone sticking their nose where it does not belong,” Lula told the convention.
Flavio Bolsonaro, 45, emerged as the right’s leading candidate after his father was convicted of plotting to overturn the 2022 election result and prevent Lula from taking office.
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