&imwidth=800&imheight=600&format=webp&quality=medium "'Pirate state': Lula attacks Trump as Rubio's Hormuz remarks come back to haunt White House")
Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has accused US President Donald Trump of turning America into a "pirate" state after Washington announced plans to charge ships a 20 per cent fee for transiting the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world's busiest maritime chokepoints. Trump on Monday (Jul 13) announced that the US would now be referred to as the "GUARDIAN OF THE HORMUZ STRAIT," and will begin collecting a 20 per cent toll on ships passing through the vital shipping route.
This comes three weeks after US Secretary of State Marco Rubio insisted that no country can charge tolls through the Strait of Hormuz.
Lula slams US
Speaking at a public event in São Paulo state on Monday, Lula mocked Trump's proposal to collect payments from commercial vessels in return for keeping the strategic waterway open.
"President Trump tweeted that he will unblock the Strait of Hormuz. But for every ship... the oil owner must pay him 20 per cent. This used to be considered piracy," Lula said. "A major nation like the United States... cannot now become a pirate," he added.
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His remarks come hours after Trump declared tolls and also announced the return of a naval blockade targeting Iranian ships and vessels trading with Tehran, while allowing all other maritime traffic to continue.
Rubio's own words return to haunt White House
Trump's announcement has also revived scrutiny of comments made by Secretary of State Marco Rubio less than a month ago.
On June 23, Rubio argued that no country had the legal authority to impose tolls on ships using the Strait of Hormuz, describing the passage as an international waterway protected under international law.
"No country is allowed to charge tolls or fees on an international waterway," Rubio had said. "That's existing international law."
Those remarks now appear to clash directly with Trump's latest policy, which would require commercial vessels to pay Washington for safe passage through the strait.
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The United Nations' International Maritime Organization echoed that position after Trump's announcement, saying there is "no legal basis" for imposing mandatory transit fees on ships using international straits.
Oil prices and politics collide
Lula linked the latest escalation in the Gulf to rising living costs in Brazil, saying higher oil prices have already pushed up the cost of fuel and everyday essentials, including beans, rice, tomatoes and onions.
His government has introduced temporary measures to cushion consumers from rising fuel prices following the renewed conflict involving Iran, while revenue from a tax on crude oil exports introduced earlier this year is being used to offset some of the economic impact.
