South Africa should work more closely with the Latin American country and stop buying foreign arms, President Lula da Silva has said

Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has called on fellow BRICS member South Africa to boost defense cooperation and reduce their reliance on foreign arms, warning that the two nations could be vulnerable to "invasion."

US President Donald Trump has repeatedly labeled BRICS countries "anti-American," although the group of emerging economies says it does not see itself as competing with or countering any other bloc.

Speaking to reporters during a visit by South African President Cyril Ramaphosa to Brasilia on Monday, Lula said the two countries need to prepare for potential threats.

"I don't know if comrade Ramaphosa realizes that if we don't prepare ourselves in terms of defense, one day someone will invade us," he said.

Lula's remarks come as US-Israeli strikes on Iran, a fellow BRICS member, continue. Iranian media reported that a new wave of attacks on Tehran on Tuesday killed at least 40 people, while officials say the overall death toll has surpassed 1,300, most of them civilians.

Lula also urged closer defense industry cooperation between Brazil and South Africa and called for reducing reliance on foreign arms suppliers.

"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," he said.

Ramaphosa said Brazil was "much more advanced" than South Africa in defense and aviation.

"We have a lot to learn from each other and a lot to show as well," he added.

Both Lula and Ramaphosa have publicly condemned US and Israeli military action against Iran, calling for an immediate ceasefire and a negotiated resolution to the conflict.

Lula has also criticized US actions in Latin America, saying Washington crossed "an unacceptable line" with its attack on Venezuela to remove President Nicolas Maduro.

Regional tensions are rising after American military strikes on alleged drugtrafficking boats in the Caribbean Sea and eastern Pacific Ocean, along with a USimposed oil blockade on Cuba. On Saturday, Trump offered Latin American leaders US missile support to target top drug cartel figures.

Founded in 2006 as a forum for major emerging economies, BRICS now includes ten members - Brazil, China, India, Russia, South Africa, Egypt, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Iran, and the United Arab Emirates.