Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva on Wednesday declared that Brazil is a “sovereign country” and that Brazilians are “masters of our own destiny,” in a strong message addressed to US President Donald Trump amid escalating tensions over tariffs, judicial sanctions, and political disputes.

Lula’s remarks came a day after White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt warned that Washington would not hesitate to use its economic and military strength to defend “freedom of expression,” when asked about the ongoing trial of former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro.

“If Trump comes, we will have to show him this panel so he can see it and compare it with the American panel. So he knows that we believe in ourselves. We are a sovereign country and we are masters of our own destiny. This is a demonstration of Brazilian competence in all areas,” Lula said in Brasilia.

Tensions have escalated since July 30, when the Trump administration announced plans to impose tariffs of up to 50 per cent on Brazilian exports and sanction Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes, who is overseeing Bolsonaro’s case. Bolsonaro faces charges of attempting to overturn his 2022 electoral defeat.

Rejecting foreign pressure, Lula reaffirmed Brazil’s independence during a ministerial meeting last month, stressing that “no one in Brazil is above the law” and that the nation’s vast territory, airspace, and forests must be governed solely under its Constitution.

While expressing willingness to negotiate with Washington, Lula made clear Brazil would only engage “on equal terms.” He emphasized, “What we are not willing to accept is to be treated as if we were subordinates.”

The remarks highlight Brazil’s determination to defend its sovereignty even as its trade and diplomatic relations with the US face fresh strains.