Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva stated on Thursday that U.S. President Donald Trump assured him during an extended bilateral meeting that the United States has no intention of invading Cuba. Speaking at the Brazilian embassy in Washington, Lula described the assurance as an important signal amid heightened geopolitical tension, adding that Cuba remains open to dialogue and is seeking relief from long-standing economic restrictions that have strained its development.
The remarks come in contrast to earlier public comments from Trump, who had suggested the United States could “take control” of Cuba “almost immediately” and floated the possibility of deploying the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln to the Caribbean following the conclusion of military operations involving Iran. Lula characterized the U.S. embargo on Cuba as the longest-running blockade in modern history and reiterated Brazil’s readiness to act as a mediator to help prevent further escalation and encourage diplomatic engagement.
Beyond the issue of Cuba, Lula said his discussions with Trump also focused heavily on global security concerns, particularly tensions involving Iran. The Brazilian president revealed that he repeatedly urged Trump to pursue a negotiated peace settlement with Tehran, firmly opposing any potential military action by the United States or Israel against Iran. According to Lula, diplomacy remains the only viable path to resolving such high-stakes disputes without triggering wider conflict.
The three-hour Oval Office meeting reportedly covered multiple flashpoints in both the Western Hemisphere and the Middle East, reflecting a broad agenda shaped by overlapping crises. Lula positioned Brazil as a potential diplomatic bridge between rival powers, emphasizing dialogue and mediation as central tools to reduce global tensions and prevent the outbreak of new conflicts.
