Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva delivered a sharp message to global partners, declaring that Brazil “will not be a mere exporter of critical minerals” and must move toward deeper industrial partnerships, especially with the Global South. Speaking at a major economic forum, Lula said Brazil’s vast mineral wealth should fuel domestic manufacturing, technological development, and long-term value creation—rather than simply supplying raw materials to wealthier nations.br br Lula argued that the current global economic structure leaves developing nations dependent on commodity exports while wealthier countries reap the benefits of advanced industry. He called for a “fairer global supply chain” and urged countries across Latin America, Africa, and Asia to collaborate on joint manufacturing, clean-tech investment, and new trade models that reduce vulnerability to external shocks.br br The Brazilian leader emphasised renewable energy, battery production, and green industrial projects as key sectors for future cooperation, adding that Brazil’s role in the energy transition should include innovation, not just extraction. Lula also framed the shift as vital for Brazil’s economic resilience and a rebalancing of trade relationships long dominated by the Global North.