Brazilian President Says He Tried to Prevent Africa From Being “Taken Hostage” by China

Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva says Brazil's rapprochement with Africa also served to prevent the continent from being "hostage" to China: "To not allow Africa to continue being hostage to colonizers or hostage to very strong actions by China." Image via @aagencia_info

Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva issued a rare public critique of China on Tuesday when he said his government sought closer ties with African countries in a bid to shield the continent from being “taken hostage” by China.

“Brazil had to play a very strong role to not allow Africa to continue being held hostage by colonizers or by very strong interventions from China, which was seeking to buy the food they needed so much,” Lula told graduates from Brazil’s diplomatic training academy.

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by Eric Olander

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