Brazil's Lula Criticizes U.S. Military Deployment in the Caribbean: 'Not Compatible With the Region's Commitment to Peace'

Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva criticized the United States' military presence in the Caribbean during a virtual BRICS summit on Monday, claiming that "the presence of armed forces of the world's greatest power in the Caribbean Sea is a source of tension incompatible with the region's vocation for peace."

Lula went on to cite the 1968 Treaty of Tlatelolco, which established Latin America and the Caribbean as a nuclear-weapon-free zone. He called on BRICS members to defend multilateralism "with a single voice" in international forums, particularly at the United Nations.

He also pushed for support of Brazil's longstanding goal of expanding the UN Security Council and encouraged cooperation on sustainable development and energy transition policies, while defending continued use of fossil fuels to finance that transition.

His remarks, first reported by Colombia's Caracol Radio, come amid the deployment of U.S. military assets near Venezuela, including eight missile-equipped ships and a nuclear-powered submarine. Tensions escalated even further last week after a U.S. strike on a vessel reportedly departing Venezuela with 11 people, identified by Washington as drug traffickers, and subsequent Venezuelan overflights of U.S. ships.

Lula has criticized for months attempts by U.S. leaders to influence Brazilian internal affairs. In televised remarks on Sunday, he said:

"We maintain friendly relations with all countries, but we do not accept orders from anyone. Brazil has a single owner: the Brazilian people"

Lula's criticism comes amid broader tensions with Washington over tariffs. The Brazilian president labeled U.S. tariffs on Brazilian exports back in July "unacceptable blackmail," rejecting claims that the measures are justified by Brazil's handling of judicial cases against former President Jair Bolsonaro.

Many believe that the dispute has bolstered Lula's domestic standing, with recent polls showing him leading potential opponents ahead of the 2026 presidential election.