In statements to the press after a bilateral meeting in the German city of Hanover, both leaders addressed issues of the international context, such as global uncertainty amid the war in the Middle East and the repeated threats from President Donald Trump against Cuba.
Lula stated that “It is a global disgrace that a country has not had the opportunity, after the revolution, to decide its own destiny, with a power that imposes a blockade, an ideological blockade against Cuba,” the Brazilian president declared, adding that he is against any blockade, any intervention, because “this has already happened before in the world and it didn’t work.”
For his part, Merz asserted that there is no reason for the United States to attack Cuba, despite months of threats from Trump.
“The ability to defend oneself does not mean having the right to intervene militarily in other states when their political systems do not align with what others may have in mind,” added the German Chancellor.
Beyond the Cuban case, both leaders broadened their focus to the crisis of the international order. Therefore, Lula’s questioning of the UN Security Council, because what is happening in the Middle East is unjustified, represents a failure of the United Nations due to its inability to foster diplomatic solutions, with negative effects extending far beyond that geographical area, Merz noted.
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