Brazil's Lula confirms reelection bid, pledges higher defense spending
Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva pledged Sunday to increase defense investment if he wins October's election, as his reelection bid was formally launched at the Workers' Party convention in São Paulo. Lula said a stronger military would deter outside threats to Brazil's sovereignty.
Lula formally launched his reelection bid at the Workers' Party's national convention at the Expo Center Norte in São Paulo, pledging to boost defense spending. The president said he wanted a military capable enough that "no one would dare invade Brazil."
His speech also leaned heavily on national sovereignty, with Lula arguing that Brazil's natural resources and its presence in the Amazon have made it a growing focus of international attention. Party officials said the campaign would combine economic growth with national security as central themes.
Seeking a fourth term, Lula currently leads most polls, though opposition criticism of his economic policies is expected to feature prominently in the campaign. October's election will also be watched closely for what it signals about Brazil's foreign policy stance in the region.
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