Brazil's Lula urges UN reform, highlights global conflicts, Amazon in UN General Assembly address

• Brazilian leader begins 79th session speech addressing Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, delegation

WASHINGTON

Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva on Tuesday highlighted the failure of global negotiations, and the need for stronger UN support and addressed conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East during his speech to the UN General Assembly.

The Brazilian leader began his speech at the 79th session addressing the Palestinian delegation and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. He said the world is witnessing an escalation of geopolitical disputes and strategic rivalries.

"Global military spending grew for the ninth consecutive year and reached $2.4 trillion. Over $90 billion have been mobilized for nuclear arsenals," said Lula, stressing that the resources could have been used to fight hunger and climate change.

"What we are seeing is an increase in military capabilities. The use of force not supported by international law is becoming the norm," he said.

Lula addressed conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East, warning that they have the potential to become widespread conflagrations.

He said the war in Ukraine is dragging on without any prospect of peace and Brazil has firmly condemned the invasion of Ukrainian territory.

"It is already clear that neither side will be able to achieve all their objectives through military means. The use of increasingly destructive weapons brings to mind the darkest days of Cold War confrontation."

He emphasized the importance of creating conditions for resuming direct dialogue between the parties, adding that there is a message of the six points of understanding that China and Brazil offered to establish a process of dialogue and end the hostilities for the Ukraine war.

Turning to Israeli attacks in the Gaza Strip and the occupied West Bank, Lula said the world is “witnessing one of the greatest humanitarian crises in recent history” and warned about escalating tensions between Israel and Lebanon.

He criticized Israel's response in the wake of the Hamas attacks on Oct. 7, saying it “has become a collective punishment for the entire Palestinian people."

“The right to defense has become the right to vengeance, which prevents an agreement for the release of hostages and delays a cease-fire,” said the Brazilian president.

Hezbollah and Israel have been engaged in cross-border warfare since the start of the Israeli onslaught against Gaza, which has killed more than 41,400 people, mostly women and children. The war began last October, nearly a year ago, following a Hamas-led cross-border attack on Israel that killed 1,139 people and led to 250 others being taken back to Gaza as hostages.

Amazon drought

Lula also addressed the drought in the Amazon during his speech, saying the rainforest is experiencing the worst drought in 45 years. He touted his administration’s success in reducing deforestation in the Amazon by 50% in the past year and promised to eradicate it by 2030.

“We have done a lot already, but we know that much more needs to be done. In addition to facing the challenge of the climate crisis, we're fighting against those who profit from environmental degradation,” said Lula.

“We will not tolerate environmental crimes, illegal mining, or organized crime.”

Lula also condemned the continued listing of Cuba as a state sponsor of terrorism as “unjustified.”

He noted that conditions for accessing financial resources remain prohibitive for most low- and middle-income countries, with the debt burden limiting their ability to invest in health, and education, reducing inequality and addressing climate change.

“African countries borrow at rates up to eight times higher than Germany and four times higher than the United States,” Lula pointed out.

Regarding his call for UN reform, Lula said: “We are approaching the end of the first quarter of the 21st century with the United Nations increasingly empty and paralyzed.”

“We need to comprehensively review and revise the UN Charter,” said Lula.

He urged reforms that would transform the UN Economic and Social Council into the main forum for addressing and combating climate change, revitalize the role of the General Assembly, strengthen the UN Peacebuilding Commission, and reform the Security Council -- focusing on its composition, working methods, and veto powers -- to make it more effective and representative of current global realities.