Lula’s Victory

Oct 29, 2026 Editorial, News

---

(Kaieteur News) – The re-election of Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva is a powerful reminder that the people of Latin America have the right to determine their own political destiny without being pressured into accepting the preferences of Washington.

For Guyana and the wider Caribbean, where United States President Donald Trump is seeking to strengthen American influence, Lula’s victory carries a message: sovereignty is not negotiable.

Lula’s victory over Flávio Bolsonaro, the conservative candidate whose political position aligned more closely with Washington’s preferences, comes at a time when the Trump administration is determined to consolidate American influence throughout the Western Hemisphere. The United States has made no secret of its desire to counter China’s growing economic and strategic presence in the region. But the question is whether this pursuit of influence will respect the independence of sovereign nations or become another exercise in powerful countries dictating the choices of smaller states.

Lula made his position clear when he insisted that Brazil would never fit into anyone’s backyard. That declaration speaks to a principle extending far beyond Brazil’s borders. No country, regardless of its military strength, economic power or global influence, has an inherent right to determine the foreign policy, political leadership or economic partnerships of another sovereign nation.

For Guyana, this principle is particularly important. Our country is experiencing unprecedented economic transformation through oil production, attracting international attention and strategic interest. The United States is an important partner in Guyana’s security and economic development, particularly as tensions with Venezuela over the Essequibo region persist. Cooperation with Washington can serve Guyana’s national interests, but partnership must never be confused with submission.

Guyana must be able to cooperate with the United States while independently deciding its relationships with other countries, including China. Any partnership must be assessed according to its benefits, risks and implications for our national interests. The same standard must apply to every foreign power seeking influence here.

The Caribbean faces a similar dilemma. Our small states depend heavily on external markets, investment, tourism, development financing and international cooperation. This dependence can leave them vulnerable when powerful countries use economic pressure, trade measures or security arrangements to influence decisions that should remain within the sovereign authority of Caribbean governments.

Trump’s determination to place American interests at the centre of hemispheric policy raises legitimate questions about how much room smaller countries will have to manoeuvre. The Caribbean cannot afford to assume that the interests of Washington will always coincide with those of Georgetown, Bridgetown, Port of Spain or Kingston. Friends can share interests without sharing every position, and genuine partnerships must allow room for disagreement.

This does not mean that Guyana or Caribbean governments should reject American cooperation or automatically embrace China. Replacing dependence on one powerful country with dependence on another would accomplish little. The objective must be to diversify partnerships, strengthen regional institutions and negotiate agreements that protect national interests.

Lula’s victory also carries an important lesson about democracy. Despite losing the first round, he mobilised supporters and reversed the outcome. Yet his victory does not erase Brazil’s deep political divisions, and a hostile Congress could complicate his efforts. His administration must now demonstrate that its promises of fairness, opportunity and environmental protection can be translated into results.

For Guyana and the Caribbean, the challenge is to turn the principle of sovereignty into practical policy. Regional governments must speak more consistently on matters affecting their collective interests, strengthen cooperation and resist attempts to divide them through competing external pressures.

The United States will remain an important neighbour and partner. But friendship does not confer ownership, and economic assistance does not purchase political obedience. Guyana, in particular, must ensure that its emerging oil wealth strengthens its independence rather than makes it more vulnerable to external influence. Our leaders must remember that the ultimate responsibility of government is to the people who elected them, not to the powerful nations seeking influence over them.

---

• Brazil election, Editorial, Flavio Bolsonaro, Latin America, Lula da Silva

---