The US asks Brazil for clearer condemnation of Russia

The United States has pressed the Brazilian government for a firmer stance towards Russia following the invasion of Ukraine.

Victoria Nuland, Under Secretary for Political Affairs at the US State Department, stated in an interview that Brazil should put itself in Ukraine’s place and imagine how it would react if a neighboring country invaded its territory.

Nuland said it is necessary to defend the UN Charter and international rules, enabling a civilized and democratic environment.

The statement represents a change in the tone adopted by the US government towards Brazil since the visit of President Joe Biden to Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.

“If Brazil had a big neighbor taking pieces of its territory and invading it with the military, would it wait and look forward to the support of the democratic community to resist and repel that?” she questioned in a conversation with journalists on Thursday the 16th.

“This is about defending the UN Charter and the rules of the world that have allowed our children to grow up in a relatively civilized international environment,” she said.

Recently, Lula refused a request from Germany to supply ammunition to Ukrainian tanks and reiterated that Brazil would not take part in the war.

So far, the US had treated Lula’s stance as part of the diplomatic game, respecting the different interests between nations.

With information from Brasil Sem Medo

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