Lula da Silva says "no Chinese, no American, no French will touch" minerals unless Brazil is respected

At a Workers’ Party gathering in São Paulo, Brazil’s 80-year-old president formally entered October’s election, his seventh run for the presidency. Lula da Silva cited his physical fitness and pledged to strengthen domestic defense and keep national control over strategically valuable minerals, saying foreign governments could access them only if Brazil’s sovereignty were respected. His candidacy comes amid tensions with foreign leaders: rival Senator Flávio Bolsonaro has received open backing from figures tied to President Donald Trump, Argentina’s president, and Israel’s prime minister. Party officials voiced concerns about foreign meddling, tariffs, and diplomatic friction. Lula also promoted tax changes favoring lower-income Brazilians and a popular debt-relief program. Party leaders called the race decisive for Latin America’s future.