Redcuban1959

Most Brazilians see Donald Trump’s threat of a 50% tariff as unjustified meddling in internal affairs and believe President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva’s administration is responding appropriately, according to a new poll. The survey, conducted by AtlasIntel for Bloomberg News and published Tuesday, found that 50.3% of respondents view Trump’s move — which the US leader linked to legal proceedings against former President Jair Bolsonaro — as an attack on Brazil’s sovereignty.

After the US president’s July 9 threat, Lula said his government would respond in kind if tariffs go into effect on Aug. 1 as planned. Some 44.8% of Brazilians considered that reaction appropriate, 27.5% viewed it as aggressive, and 25.2% found it weak, according to the poll. More than half of respondents, 51.2%, supported hitting back with retaliatory tariffs, while 28.6% said Brazil should strengthen ties with US rivals like China.

Lula’s disapproval rating edged down in July, falling to 50.3% from 51.8% in June. Meanwhile, his approval rating ticked up to 49.7% from 47.3% over the same period. Brazil’s diplomatic dispute with the US also boosted support for Lula’s foreign policy. Some 60.2% now view it favorably, up from 49.6% in November 2023.

The share of Brazilians who say Lula represents the country on the international stage better than Bolsonaro rose to 61.1% from 51%. And nearly half of those surveyed, 47.9%, believe Lula’s administration will be able to negotiate an agreement with the US.

Bolsonaro is expected to stand trial before the Supreme Court for allegedly attempting a coup after his supporters stormed government buildings in Brasilia on Jan. 8, 2023. Authorities also accused the 70-year-old former president of being tied to a plot to assassinate Lula, Vice President Geraldo Alckmin and Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes.

After Trump’s threat, one of the former president’s sons, Eduardo Bolsonaro, claimed the move was a result of his lobbying efforts in the US to rally international support for his father.

For 62.2% of poll respondents, Trump’s decision to target Brazil is unjustified. Most see it as politically motivated, with 40.9% saying it was retaliation for Brazil’s participation in the BRICS bloc and 36.9% attributing it to the Bolsonaro family’s influence in the US.

Trump’s image in Brazil is suffering as a result. Some 63.2% now view the US president negatively, up from from 47% in November 2023, while his favorable rating dropped sharply to 31.9% from from 48%. The image of the US has also deteriorated in Brazil, with 50.5% of respondents having a negative view of the superpower compared to 45.9% who see the country positively.

Looking ahead, if Trump’s tariff goes into effect next month, 48.6% of respondents believe it will have a significant impact Brazil’s economy. And some 70% expect inflation — which ticked up to 5.35% on an annual basis in June — to increase as a result. AtlasIntel surveyed 2,841 people online between Friday and Sunday. The poll has a margin of error of two percentage points.

How do you rate the government's reaction to the tariffs?

• 44.8% Adequate

• 27.5% Aggressive

• 25.2% Weak

• 2.5% Don't know

Will the government be able to negotiate with the US?

• 47.9% Yes

• 38.8% No

• 13.3% Don't know

What is your perception of the USA?

• 50.5% Negative

• 45.9% Positive

Brazil-US relations are:

• 75.7% Weaker

• 18.2% The same

• 1.5% Stronger

Should Brazil retaliate against the US?

• 51.2% Yes

• 40.9% No

Was Trump's decision justified?

• 62.2% No

• 36.8% Yes

• 1% Don't know

Is Trump's tax a threat to Brazil's Sovereignty?

• 50.3% Yes

• 47.8% No

• 1.8% Don't know

What is your opinion of Trump?

• 63.2% Negative

• 31.9% Positive

• 4.8% Don't know

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz warns of renewed and intensified military strikes against Iran if threatened, signaling a dangerous escalation in Middle East tensions. The situation raises urgent concerns over regional stability and the humanitarian impact of continued conflict.

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz declared that Israel is prepared to launch further attacks on Iran with even greater force if provoked again. Speaking at a graduation ceremony for Israeli Air Force pilots, Katz emphasized that Israel’s military reach extends deep into Iranian territory, naming cities such as Tehran, Tabriz, and Isfahan as potential targets. He warned Iranian officials that “there is no place to hide” from Israeli strikes and stated, “If we must return, we will do so with greater force”.

These statements come shortly after the 12-day conflict in June, during which Israel launched airstrikes on Iranian nuclear and military sites, citing concerns over Iran’s advancing nuclear program. The United States supported these operations with strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities, further intensifying the confrontation.

The conflict, known as the “12-day war,” began on June 13 when Israel initiated attacks on Iranian targets, triggering missile and drone exchanges. Iran retaliated by striking the largest U.S. military base in the Middle East, located in Qatar. A ceasefire brokered by the United States was announced on June 24, temporarily halting hostilities.

Following these events, Katz has repeatedly underscored Israel’s determination to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons. He has described the situation as a “critical juncture” and warned that failure to act decisively would leave Israel vulnerable to existential threats.

In recent weeks, Katz also announced the launch of Operation “Black Flag,” targeting Houthi positions in Yemen in response to missile attacks on Israeli territory. He stated that Israel will continue to respond decisively to any threats from Iranian-backed groups across the region.

The escalation raises significant concerns about the adherence to international law and the protection of civilians. The targeting of nuclear infrastructure during ongoing diplomatic negotiations undermines efforts to resolve tensions peacefully. Reports indicate that the military strikes have resulted in numerous casualties and damage to civilian infrastructure in Iran, exacerbating humanitarian challenges.

The risk of further escalation threatens to destabilize the region, with potentially devastating consequences for civilian populations on all sides.

The recent declarations by Israel’s defense leadership reflect a hardened stance that prioritizes military action to neutralize perceived threats. The emphasis on striking “very significant targets” within Iran’s regime and infrastructure signals a readiness to intensify conflict if deemed necessary.

This trajectory underscores the urgent need for renewed efforts toward de-escalation and diplomatic engagement to prevent a broader regional war. The international community faces the challenge of addressing security concerns while upholding legal norms and minimizing human suffering.