Brazil President Lula warns Ramaphosa South Africa could face invasion without stronger defence

Brazil’s President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa gesture as they pose for a picture during a press statement at the Planalto Palace in Brasilia, on March 9, 2026. Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva on Monday urged his South African counterpartCyril Ramaphosa to boost defence co-operation, warning that both countries were vulnerable to foreigninvasion. Both Lula and the visiting Ramaphosa have been critical of the war against Iran waged by the United States and Israel.

“I don’t know if comrade Ramaphosa realises that if we don’t prepare ourselves in terms of defence, one day someone will invade us,” said Lula. “We need to combine our potential and see what we can produce together, build together. We don’t need to keep buying from foreign arms suppliers.” Ramaphosa noted that Brazil was “much more advanced” than South Africa in defence and aviation.

“We have a lot to learn from each other and we also have a lot to show you as well.” The two countries’ defence ministers were due to meet Monday to work on a cooperation agreement. “In South America, we present ourselves as a region of peace. No one has a nuclear bomb, no one has an atomic bomb.

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So we think of defence as deterrence,” said Lula. South Africa and Brazil are members of the BRICS groupof emerging nations, which US President Donald Trump has labelled “anti-American.” The bloc also includes China, Russia, and Iran, among others. Lula has been critical of Washington’s actions in Latin America, saying the US attack on Venezuela to oust president Nicolas Maduro crossed “an unacceptable line.”

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