Brazil is facing growing pressure as the United States signals possible new sanctions. This comes after the conviction of former Brazilian president Jair Bolsonaro on charges linked to an attempted coup. The ruling has sparked anger in Washington, with former U.S. president Donald Trump warning of consequences.
Trump said he was very unhappy with the conviction. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio echoed that view, calling the case a “witch hunt” and suggesting the American government would respond strongly.
In return, Brazil’s Foreign Ministry quickly rejected the comments. Officials described them as inappropriate threats and stressed that the country’s courts acted independently. They said Brazil’s democracy would not be shaken by outside pressure and insisted that Bolsonaro had been given full legal rights during the process.
The case has placed the South American nation in the middle of a storm. Relations with its largest trading partner are now under strain, and both sides are preparing for the possibility of a worsening dispute.
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Brazil’s Response to Threats of Sanctions
Brazilian officials say they have long expected retaliation from the U.S. following the trial. Senate leader Rogério Carvalho explained that the government already has plans to reduce damage if sanctions are announced. According to him, special programs will be put in place to support businesses that might be hit by new tariffs.
The administration of President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (Lula) is also working on expanding trade with other regions to reduce dependence on the U.S. Authorities say they are aggressively seeking new markets so that Brazilian exporters will have other options if access to American markets becomes harder.
The tension escalated further when the U.S. Treasury Department recently imposed sanctions on Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes, who oversaw Bolsonaro’s case. Such sanctions are normally used against people accused of human rights abuses. The move shocked officials in Brazil, who view it as a direct attack on the independence of their judiciary.
Lula, while calling the threats “arrogant,” made clear that his government would answer step by step. He emphasized that no country should interfere in another’s judicial decisions. The message was simple: Brazil will not be intimidated, and any action taken against the country will be met with an appropriate response.
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The Conviction That Sparked the Dispute
The conflict began with the conviction of Jair Bolsonaro by Brazil’s highest court. A panel of judges found him guilty of attempting to stay in power after losing the 2022 election. Evidence presented in court included his repeated claims that the voting system could not be trusted, as well as discussions with aides about using an emergency decree to block the election result.
Prosecutors also pointed to the violent unrest in the capital city shortly after Lula was sworn in. They argued that Bolsonaro’s actions fueled the crisis and created a serious threat to democracy.
Bolsonaro’s lawyers, however, argued that the case was flawed. They said that while he may have spoken about an emergency decree, he never carried it out. Instead, they noted that he eventually allowed the transfer of power to go forward.
Analysts like Christopher Garman of the Eurasia Group suggest that the White House could expand sanctions to other judges involved in the case, and possibly even their families. He also noted that further trade measures could be considered, especially in light of Brazil’s energy ties with Russia.
The conviction has now ignited a heated clash between Brazil and the U.S., as sanctions and tariffs remain on the table.
