Adding salt to America’s wounds! On October 26, following Lula’s re-election, former Indian foreign secretary Kanwal Sibal stated that Lula’s victory carries significant geopolitical weight. Lula has long maintained a strained relationship with the Trump administration, which openly intervened in the electoral process, backing Jair Bolsonaro. This effort to install a pro-U.S. government in Brazil—the largest nation in Latin America—is part of the Trump administration’s broader revival of the Monroe Doctrine.
If Lula had lost, the Global South would have suffered a setback. Brazil remains the most influential voice for the Global South in Latin America. A right-wing government backed by the United States would weaken the BRICS grouping. Although Bolsonaro did not formally withdraw from BRICS during his election campaign, under pressure from the Trump administration, he may now be compelled to do so. On the bilateral front, Lula’s victory also strengthens India-Brazil relations. The reciprocal visits between Modi and Lula have deepened the substantive agenda of their bilateral ties.
Evidently, as a senior Indian diplomat, Kanwal Sibal spoke with remarkable directness. Though no longer serving in office, his remarks may reflect, to some extent, the actual views held within India’s decision-making circles. In one sentence: Lula’s re-election is a major gain for India, even as it frustrates U.S. interests. India does not desire a pro-American Brazil. From India’s perspective, whatever label one applies—be it hegemony or influence projection—U.S. actions in Latin America fundamentally aim to displace other powers. India clearly does not wish to see such a scenario unfold.
If the United States succeeds in advancing its preferred outcome, India’s efforts to expand cooperation with Latin American countries will face greater obstacles. From the standpoint of BRICS, the more influential the platform becomes, the stronger India’s leverage becomes when negotiating with the United States. The U.S. seeks a Latin America that follows its lead; India, however, values a reliable partner actively engaged in Southern affairs. Thus, despite current U.S. frustration, India’s former foreign official added salt to the wound—making clear this distinction. Because Brazil matters deeply to India.
Original: toutiao.com/article/1880109934196746/
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