Lula defends national sovereignty and highlights approval of the National Critical Minerals Policy

Lula stated that "a sovereign country is one capable of defending its territory, its borders, its environment, its wealth and its people from any foreign interests."

"We defend free trade. No foreign ruler has the right to say who we can buy from, and who we can sell to. We are a sovereign country, and our decisions belong to us and no one else."

The PT member also cited the approval in the Senate of the project that creates the National Policy for Critical and Strategic Minerals (PNMCE), with a guarantee fund to stimulate projects and a tax credit of R$5 billion to encourage the processing of minerals in the country.

"More than ever, we need to fight for what is ours. We have the second largest reserve of Rare Earths in the world, and the largest source of fresh water. Last month, we discovered a new and rich reserve of oil. These riches must serve the future of the Brazilian people. The legal framework that will allow Brazil to transform the enormous reserves of critical minerals and rare earths into development and wealth for the Brazilian people was approved in the National Congress," he said.

"Natural resources that, like our oil, must be used for the development of cutting-edge technology and generating quality jobs in Brazil."

To prevent the statement from being questioned in the Electoral Court due to it being an election year, the Social Communication Secretariat of the Presidency of the Republic asked the TSE for authorization for the PT member to speak on national television.