Brazil President Lula accuses US of election meddling as vote approaches

Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva's campaign has asked the country's Federal Supreme Court to look into possible U.S. meddling in the upcoming election. Lula's Workers' Party also went to the Superior Election Tribunal against far-right candidate Flávio Bolsonaro to ask for a probe into alleged U.S. support for his campaign. Brazil goes to the polls on October 4 in a tense election where Lula leads Mr. Flávio by five points in first-round polls.

Background

Recent petitions followed a pact signed by 14 countries in a right-wing Latin American group formed by U.S. President Donald Trump, which named 24 drug groups as shared threats, including Brazil's First Capital Command and Red Command. Lula hit back at the decision, stating at the United Nations that Brazil will not outsource protecting its citizens and declaring that the country does not fit in anyone's backyard. He skipped a meeting with Mr. Trump in New York and instead met New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani and Senator Bernie Sanders.

Context

Brazil is one of South America's biggest democracies, making its national elections closely watched events that often draw international diplomatic interest and strategic competition among global powers. Such political contests frequently involve intense debates over national sovereignty, foreign policy alignments, and economic independence from outside pressure. Electoral disputes in the region often highlight broader tensions between local governance and major international actors seeking influence over strategic resources and political outcomes.