Lula shocks Trump, refuses to supply rare earth minerals key to weapons if…?| Brazil| China| USA

Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva declared that Brazil will no longer be “a mere exporter of critical minerals,” urging foreign and domestic companies to invest in value-added industries within Brazil. Speaking at the Brazil–Mozambique Business Forum in Maputo, Lula stressed that nations rich in natural resources must invest in local processing to avoid repeating historic patterns of exploitation. Lula highlighted that both Brazil and Africa—especially Mozambique—possess vast reserves of lithium, cobalt, rare earths, niobium, nickel, copper, graphite, and uranium, all essential for the global green transition. He emphasized the need for industrialization, job creation, and stronger supply chains built through partnerships across the Global South. The Brazilian president also criticized recent U.S. tariff measures, reaffirming Brazil’s strategy of diversifying partnerships to counter “unfair and illegal pressures.” Watch the video to find out more.