Snip:

The United States must stop acting like an empire and start respecting the sovereignty of other countries, Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has said, in response to US President Donald Trump’s threat to impose new tariffs on nations “aligning” with BRICS.

In a post on Truth Social on Monday, Trump warned that the US would impose an additional 10% tariff on any country “aligning themselves with the Anti-American policies of BRICS.” His comments came as the group, which includes ten members, including Russia, China, Brazil, India, and South Africa, wrapped up its annual summit in Rio de Janeiro.

“I don’t think it’s responsible or serious for the president of a country as large as the United States to be threatening the world over the internet,” Lula told reporters at the end of the summit. “He needs to understand that the world has changed. We don’t want an emperor. We are sovereign nations. If he believes he can impose tariffs, then we have the right to respond with tariffs of our own.”