The election campaign team of Brazil’s President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has accused US President Donald Trump of trying to “colonise” the country and gain access to its natural resources.
This was reported by The Guardian.
The allegations were made in a campaign video that Lula’s team posted on social media on 24 September. It is also due to be broadcast on television amid debate about possible US influence on Brazil’s presidential election.
The video claims that Trump is trying to back Lula’s rival, Flávio Bolsonaro, in order to advance his own interests in Brazil.
“Flávio Bolsonaro is Trump’s candidate, and Trump wants to colonise Brazil, take our wealth, steal our future and leave us with nothing,” the video says.
Lula da Silva also said Bolsonaro allegedly wants to hand Brazil’s natural resources over to the United States.
“If it were up to him, Brazil would become a colony again,” the president said.
The US State Department denied claims that Washington is interfering in Brazil’s election.
“Any suggestions of a ‘cunning plan’ to undermine an election in a democratic country are baseless lies,” the State Department said.
The first round of Brazil’s presidential election is scheduled for 4 October. If none of the candidates wins more than 50% of the vote, a second round will be held on 25 October.