Lula Opens UN General Assembly with Warning on Credibility Crisis
Brazil's Lula da Silva opened the 81st UN General Assembly debate, warning the world body is failing to prevent war and urging multilateralism.
Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva opened the general debate of the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly on Tuesday, using the platform to warn that the world body is falling short of one of its core purposes — sparing humanity from war.
Describing the present juncture as the most critical moment in the UN's history, Lula said mounting geopolitical tensions risk turning regional conflicts into a wider global conflagration. He framed the choices before the international community as multilateralism against unilateralism, democracy against extremism, and sovereignty against subordination.
On the war in Ukraine, the Brazilian president pressed for a diplomatic settlement, arguing that no side can prevail on the battlefield and that negotiation is the only path forward. He pointed to the Group of Friends for Peace, an initiative Brazil launched jointly with China, as evidence that actors in the international community remain willing to pursue dialogue.
Turning to Latin America and the Caribbean, Lula called for respect for the sovereignty of countries in the region and rejected any division of the world into spheres of influence.
On the Middle East, he restated support for a two-state solution to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, cautioning that illegal settlements in the West Bank are steadily eroding the viability of such an outcome. He also said the Strait of Hormuz has become a battleground when it ought to remain a vital artery for international trade, warning that rising prices for fuel, fertilizers and food are being borne by households worldwide.
Lula further urged stronger international cooperation on combating organized crime, tackling climate change and governing emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence. On climate, he said Brazil will keep reducing deforestation and push ahead with decarbonizing its economy, while stressing that the country's natural resources should benefit its own people. He also called for regulation of Big Tech and AI, cautioning against the development of technologies without rules, transparency or ethical limits.