‘US wants to colonize us again,’ Lula tells Latin American leaders

(SeaPRwire) –   Brazil’s president has criticized the US for the abduction of Nicolas Maduro and the oil blockade against Cuba

Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has stated that Latin America is at risk of a return to colonial governance, characterizing the White House’s recent actions in the region as undemocratic.

In January, the United States abducted Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro, and last month—following US President Donald Trump’s accusation that Cuba poses a threat—it imposed an oil blockade on the island nation. Additionally, Washington has carried out numerous deadly, extrajudicial attacks on vessels in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific as part of its efforts to combat drug trafficking.

During the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) summit in Bogota, Colombia, on Saturday, Lula criticized Washington’s foreign policy, though he avoided directly naming the US or Trump.

“It’s not possible for someone to think that they own other countries. What are they doing with Cuba now? What did they do with Venezuela? Is that democratic?” he asked rhetorically.

Latin America has already been stripped of its gold, diamonds, and minerals, the Brazilian leader noted, pointing to US meddling in the region dating back to the 1823 Monroe Doctrine—a policy that asserted the Western Hemisphere as a US sphere of influence. Washington’s presence in the region decreased notably after the Cold War ended in the early 1990s.

“After taking everything we had, now they want to own the critical minerals and rare earths that we have. They want to colonize us again,” he warned.

The leaders of Latin American countries “cannot allow anyone to interfere and violate the territorial integrity of each country,” Lula stressed.

Earlier this week, Trump stated that he anticipates having the “honor” of “taking Cuba in some form,” asserting that he can do whatever he wishes with the island.

Due to oil shortages brought on by the US blockade, Cuba experienced a second countrywide blackout on Saturday—its second since the beginning of the week—leaving over 10 million people without power.

On Thursday, Colombian President Gustavo Petro told Politico that Latin America is not a “land to be conquered.” He recommended that Washington hold talks with Havana, “instead of imposing an empire from which Cubans always free themselves.”