Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva opened the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) on Tuesday (23) with a sharp critique of U.S. foreign policy and a defense of Brazil’s democratic institutions. Speaking in New York, Lula condemned Washington’s unilateral sanctions against other nations, warned that such measures destabilize the global economy, and celebrated the recent conviction of far-right former president Jair Bolsonaro for attempting a coup.
Although he did not name U.S. President Donald Trump directly, Lula criticized attacks on Brazil’s economy and judiciary, saying they were unjustifiable and encouraged by Brazil’s far-right. “There is no justification for unilateral measures against our institutions and our economy. Aggression against the judiciary is unacceptable. False patriots plot against Brazil with the support of a subservient extreme right,” he said.
The president highlighted that the Supreme Federal Court’s ruling against Bolsonaro marked a turning point: “For the first time in our history, a former president was convicted for assaulting the democratic rule of law. He was held accountable in a thorough process, with full rights of defense. We sent a message to all would-be autocrats: our sovereignty is non-negotiable.”
Multilateralism and sanctions
This was Lula’s 11th UNGA speech and one of his strongest so far. Last year, he called for reform of the UN system. This year, he said the institution itself is “under threat like never before.” He argued that multilateralism is at a crossroads, weakened by arbitrary sanctions and foreign interventions.
According to Lula, U.S. sanctions have disrupted global supply chains and fueled inflation and stagnation worldwide. He called for the refoundation of the World Trade Organization (WTO) to counter such measures. “Unilateral sanctions disorganize value chains and throw the global economy into spirals of high prices and stagnation. It is urgent to rebuild the WTO on modern and flexible bases,” he said.
He also warned of the rise of anti-democratic forces: “They try to subjugate institutions, stifle freedoms, and glorify violence and ignorance. Even under attack, Brazil has chosen to defend its democracy, won after two decades of dictatorship.”
Venezuela, Cuba, and Latin America
Lula’s remarks directly challenged the Trump administration’s latest actions in Latin America. In recent weeks, Washington released videos of airstrikes against Venezuelan vessels in the Caribbean, claiming they were drug traffickers but presenting no evidence. Lula denounced these operations as extrajudicial killings: “Using lethal force in situations that are not armed conflicts amounts to executing people without trial. Dialogue must remain open with Venezuela.”
He also defended Cuba, calling it “unacceptable” that the island remains on the U.S. list of state sponsors of terrorism. Lula mentioned Haiti, saying the Caribbean nation “has the right to a future free of violence.”
Inequality, digital platforms, and Palestine
Lula devoted part of his 18-minute speech to structural issues. He urged regulation of major digital platforms, warning that Big Techs have become tools for spreading intolerance. “Digital platforms bring us closer together, but they are being used to spread hate and conservatism. They must be regulated. Last week, Brazil’s Congress passed one of the most advanced laws in the world to protect children and adolescents.”
He also linked democracy to social rights, condemning wage inequality, gender-based violence, and poverty: “Poverty is as much an enemy of democracy as extremism.” He celebrated Brazil’s removal from the UN hunger map but reminded that 670 million people around the world still go hungry.
Lula called for cutting military spending, increasing development aid, and alleviating debt in poor countries. On Palestine, he was explicit: “Nothing justifies the genocide in Gaza. The international community must take a firm stance against aggression toward Palestinians.”
Climate, memory, and the Global South
The president reiterated Brazil’s commitment to climate action, announcing a proposed Tropical Forests Forever Fund and calling for an energy transition free from the “predatory logic” of past centuries. He also paid tribute to the late Uruguayan president Pepe Mujica and Pope Francis, praising their humanist legacies.
Closing his speech, Lula emphasized the need to amplify voices from the Global South: “Authoritarianism and inequality are not inevitable. We can defeat the false prophets and oligarchs who exploit fear and monetize hate. Tomorrow is built through daily choices, and courage is needed to transform it. In the future Brazil envisions, there is no place for ideological rivalries or spheres of influence.”
