Brazil's Lula calls Trump's Hormuz transit fee proposal "act of piracy"

Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has criticised U.S. President Donald Trump's proposal to charge ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz, calling the plan "an act of piracy."

“The US, which has long fought against piracy, must not now become pirates itself,” Lula said, EFE reports.

The Brazilian president also said the Strait of Hormuz had remained open to shipping before the recent outbreak of hostilities and argued that the economic consequences of the conflict were already affecting global food prices.

“The cost of military action” is having an impact on food prices, he said.

Trump announced on July 13 that the United States would assume the role of "the Guardian of the Hormuz Strait" and seek reimbursement equivalent to 20% of the value of all cargo shipped through the strategic waterway to cover the costs of providing security.

The U.S. president said all nations would continue to enjoy "fair and open use" of the strait but argued that, "as a matter of FAIRNESS," the United States should be reimbursed at a rate of 20% on all cargo transiting the waterway to fund security operations in what he described as a "very volatile" region.

By Sabina Mammadli