Lula criticizes the US and defends multilateralism in his speech to the UN

The president of Brazil, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, the first head of state to speak before the UN General Assembly this Tuesday, has emerged as the first spokesman for those who defend almost everything that Donald Trump's United States and other powers systematically attack. Lula has valued the architecture created after the Second World War to resolve conflicts and avoid wars. The Brazilian has criticized the attacks on the UN, its lack of credibility and effectiveness, and has demanded a return to multilateralism before a Security Council that holds "the rest of the world hostage."

"Since I took this stand for the first time, in 2003, this is the most critical moment for the United Nations. The feeling that drives me today is indignation," he admitted to his counterparts around the world with the perspective that his seniority gives him.

Sticking to current events, the Brazilian has criticized the “genocide practiced by the Netanyahu Government in Gaza.” And closer to home, he has rejected US interference south of the Rio Grande at a time when Brazil is on the verge of crucial elections and there are fears that Washington will meddle again in other people's affairs. "Brazil does not fit in anyone's backyard, we need partners with a positive agenda, ideological differences should not prevent integration between neighbors," he said after emphasizing that "the Venezuelan people deserve to be able to define their own destiny."

Lula traveled to the UN two weeks before the Brazilian general elections in which he seeks re-election, with his country subjected to a tariff war by the United States and with the threat that Washington will impose new sanctions, which could influence the campaign and the results. The secret services, the ABIN, have raised the risk of US interference in the October 4 elections to a “critical level”.

The Brazilian president and Trump, whom Lula did not mention in his speech, crossed paths in the halls of the UN a year ago, which gave them the opportunity to meet in person. That greeting paved the way to redirect one of the worst crises in the bilateral relationship, unleashed by pressure for Bolsonaro Sr. not to be tried, and for both leaders to build a personal relationship that has been reflected in two official meetings, the last in May at the White House.

But that has not stopped the United States from displaying its power with a second round of tariffs against Brazil.

Lula has been the first head of state to address the general assembly on the traditional occasion, established in 1955, that Brazil, one of the most populated countries and not aligned with any of the blocs in the Cold War, opens the annual session. For this tenth speech before the UN, Lula has chosen his lucky tie, with the colors of his country. His wife, Janja da Silva, accompanied him to the UN dressed again in a jacket made with traditional Palestinian embroidery.