Brazil's foreign ministry on 9/7 said it had summoned US Charge d'Affaires Gabriel Escobar to explain the US embassy's statement concerning former president Jair Bolsonaro. The US embassy confirmed that Escobar met with Brazilian foreign ministry officials, but declined to provide details of the exchange.
Brazil's move came after the US embassy issued a statement expressing support for Bolsonaro, who faces a potential 40-year prison sentence for alleged coup plotting.
"Jair Bolsonaro and his family are steadfast partners of the US. The political persecution of him, his family, and his supporters is shameful and disregards Brazil's democratic traditions," the US embassy said.
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Former Brazilian president Jair Bolsonaro in Brasilia in January. Photo: AFP |
Former Brazilian president Jair Bolsonaro in Brasilia in January. Photo: AFP
Earlier this week, US President Donald Trump also posted on social media criticizing the Brazilian government and supporting Bolsonaro. "Leave Bolsonaro alone," Trump said. "I, along with the entire world, have watched as they have done nothing but try to get him, day after day, night after night, month after month, and year after year!".
Trump also claimed that Bolsonaro is the most popular candidate for next year's presidential election in the South American country, even though the former leader has been barred from running for spreading misinformation about Brazil's voting system.
President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, who defeated Bolsonaro in the 2022 election, criticized Trump's post, describing it as "interference" and stressing that "no one is above the law".
Bolsonaro thanked the US president for defending "peace, justice, and freedom." The former leader's wife attended Trump's inauguration in Washington in January.
In a letter to President Lula on 9/7 announcing a 50% tariff on Brazilian imports from 1/8, President Trump further criticized Brasilia's treatment of Bolsonaro as an "international disgrace" and said that the trial of the former president "should not take place".
In the letter, Trump said Washington would open an investigation into Brazil's trade practices. He also warned of increasing tariffs if Brasilia retaliated.
In a social media post, President Lula said that Bolsonaro's trial was a matter for the courts to decide and that Brazil would not accept any threats that could harm the independence of its national institutions.
The 70-year-old Bolsonaro, a right-wing figure and an ally of Trump during his time in office, is on trial for allegedly plotting a coup to stay in power after losing the election to Lula. The former Brazilian president denies the allegations.
Huyen Le (AFP, Reuters)
