A stirring call for the United Nations to take up responsibility for protecting its nations from constant armed conflicts, and to “focus on issues crucial for the future of humanity,” was delivered by Brazil’s President Lula da Silva, leading off the UN General Assembly “high-level debate” Sept. 22. Lula’s speech drew exuberant applause, accompanied with at least two calls of “bravo” from the assembled delegates.
The Brazilian President began by charging that the General Assembly is failing to fulfill its responsibilities to its nations to keep peace, and all those nations are being held hostage to armed conflicts. “Concessions to the domination of the stronger” are everywhere, he said. There is a fundamental conflict of sovereignty vs. dictatorship. He judged the UN to be paralyzed in the face of wars on and embargos of developing nations, and “we need to rediscover the will to development.”
While many would have wished for more from President Lula about a new security and development architecture, he notably observed: “Leading is to reconcile the interests of the nation with those of humanity…. There is a legitimate desire for change throughout the world, but change is not the same as going backwards. It’s not about taking away rights. It’s not about reviving theories of racial supremacy or female subjugation. It’s not about recolonizing the Global South.” And he emphasized that Brazil is invested in expanding productivity, raising wages, and sustaining industrial growth.
The Brazilian President consistently challenged the war party of the Western nations, without naming names. “Threatening civilizations with extinction will not bring peace,” was a clear reference to U.S. President Trump’s terrible threat, to wipe out Iran entirely. “Diplomacy is the only option, Lula insisted. “We need neighbors with a positive outlook on cooperation.” He defended Venezuela and Cuba ("the world watches in horror as collective punishment is imposed on 10 million people by an illegal economic and energy embargo"). At another point: “We do not need aircraft carriers clogging our waters. We need cooperation against drugs and crime.” And finally: “Brazil does not fit in anyone’s backyard.” It would be a historical omission not to address the need for regulation of big tech and artificial intelligence. “Brazil will not tolerate this business model,” he said, after referring to exposing children to improper content.
Lula concluded with a warning to the Trump Administration and the Wall Street/City of London financiers, albeit without naming them: Stay out of the Brazilian elections! “We will not allow the enemies of democracy, whether domestic or foreign, to undermine popular will. Brazilian democracy belongs to Brazilians. Brazil continues to be a sovereign country. Nobody, nobody will turn us away from this path.”
His speech included no reference to serial central banker Mark Carney’s new “Partners 4 Multilateralism,” to which Lula had lent his name in a Financial Times op-ed.
