Emerging Challenges
Brazil's Lula urges Ramaphosa to boost defense co-operation
Lula warned South Africa that both nations were at risk of foreign intervention if they remain militarily dependent on outside powers amid rising geopolitical tensions.
![Brazil's President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva (R) and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa gesture as they pose for a picture during a press statement at the Planalto Palace in Brasilia, on March 9. [Evaristo Sa/AFP]](/gc7/images/2026/03/13/54995-afp__20260309__a2ka4qq__v1__highres__brazilsafricadiplomacy-370_237.webp)
AFP |
Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva on March 9 urged his South African counterpart Cyril Ramaphosa to boost defense co-operation, warning that both countries were vulnerable to foreign invasion.
Both Lula and the visiting Ramaphosa have been critical of the conflict involving Iran and the military actions waged by the United States and Israel.
"I don't know if comrade Ramaphosa realizes that if we don't prepare ourselves in terms of defense, one day someone will invade us," said Lula.
"We need to combine our potential and see what we can produce together, build together. We don't need to keep buying from foreign arms suppliers."
![Brazil's President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva (R) and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa chat during a welcome ceremony at the Planalto Palace in Brasilia, on March 9. [Evaristo Sa/AFP]](/gc7/images/2026/03/13/54994-afp__20260309__a2jg7hz__v3__highres__topshotbrazilsafricadiplomacy-370_237.webp)
Ramaphosa noted that Brazil was "much more advanced" than South Africa in defense and aviation.
"We have a lot to learn from each other and we also have a lot to show you as well."
The two countries' defense ministers were due to meet March 9 to work on a cooperation agreement.
"In South America, we present ourselves as a region of peace. No one has a nuclear bomb, no one has an atomic bomb. So we think of defense as deterrence," said Lula.
South Africa and Brazil are members of the BRICS group of emerging nations, which US President Donald Trump has labeled "anti-American."
The bloc also includes China, Russia and Iran, among others.
Lula has been critical of Washington's actions in Latin America, saying the US attack on Venezuela to oust president Nicolas Maduro crossed "an unacceptable line."
Prior to Maduro's ouster, the US military carried out several air strikes on alleged drug trafficking boats in the Caribbean Sea and eastern Pacific Ocean.
Trump on March 7 offered to help Latin American leaders combat drug cartels with US missile strikes targeting narco kingpins.
Brazilian media on March 9 reported that Foreign Minister Mauro Vieira and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio had spoken by phone about Washington's possible designation of Brazil's two largest criminal factions as terrorist organizations.
Contacted by AFP, the ministry did not confirm the conversation had taken place.
In 2025, Brazil's right-wing opposition unsuccessfully tried to pass a law classifying the country's two major criminal organizations, Comando Vermelho (Red Command) and First Capital Command (PCC), as terrorist groups.