Lula slams Trump's "unilateralism," urges deescalation in South America

RIO DE JANEIRO, Dec. 11 (Xinhua) -- Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva on Thursday criticized U.S. President Donald Trump for advocating a "law of the strongest" in international politics after a recent phone call between the two leaders on regional tensions.

"The unilateralism that President Trump wants is one in which the strongest dictates what others must do," Lula said during an event in Minas Gerais state.

Lula said he emphasized in the phone call the necessity to preserve the Americas as a conflict-free region, but Trump insisted on highlighting U.S. military might.

The conversation was part of Brazil's effort to act as an intermediary amid rising tensions between the United States and Venezuela, as well as other Latin American countries.

"We are going to try to use words as an instrument of persuasion to do things right. Diplomatically, words are the strongest tool we have to resolve problems," Lula added. ■