The president of Brazil criticized this Monday, in Brussels, what he calls the “arms race.” Lula da Silva establishes a relationship between Russia’s war in Ukraine and the growing difficulties in solving day-to-day problems, given the need to invest in defense.
The Brazilian president was speaking at the inaugural session of the European Union-Latin America business forum, considering that Russia’s war in Ukraine is an aggravating factor of uncertainty in the world. But he understands that leaders have yet to find an answer to the current crises.
“It is up to officials, businessmen and workers to reconstruct the path of prosperity, the resumption of production, investment and jobs”, defended Lula da Silva, admitting that the crises of recent years have only aggravated existing problems.
“The Covid-19 pandemic, in addition to claiming millions of lives, has disorganized the productive system in the four corners of the planet, climate change highlights the urgency of preserving biodiversity and ecosystems, the crisis of democracy sows discord , violence and intolerance, undermining the conditions of life in society and the planning of economic activity”, he said.
For Lula da Silva, Russia’s aggression against Ukraine constitutes a new factor of “global uncertainty”, since it leads to the absorption of resources necessary to face economic and social problems.
“The war in the heart of Europe throws the cloak of uncertainty over the world and channels resources that were essential for the economy and social programs towards warlike purposes,” said the head of state, convinced that “the arms race makes it even more difficult more to tackle climate change.
In trade matters, Lula da Silva stressed that “the European Union is Brazil’s second largest trading partner,” hoping that “the trade flow could exceed the 100 billion dollar mark this year.”
“A balanced agreement between Mercosur and the European Union, which we intend to conclude this year, will open up new horizons,” he said, after denying the European side’s argument that Brazil needs to contribute to the fight against climate change.
“Brazil already has one of the cleanest energy matrices on the planet: 87% of our electricity already comes from renewable sources against 27% of the world average, and 50% of all our energy is clean, while in the world the average is 15%”, he stressed.
For Brasilia, “an agreement that preserves the ability of the parties to respond to present and future challenges” is essential.
“Brazil has a large internal market of 203 million people, with an enormous consumption capacity that is still repressed, which will require greater investments in durable goods, inputs and associated services”, Lula da Silva highlighted.
Source: TSF
