In his opening address to the high-level segment of the 81st United Nations General Assembly - traditionally delivered by a Brazilian president - Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva will emphasize the importance of multilateralism, one of the central tenets of Brazilian foreign policy, in a context marked by a proliferation of international conflicts.

The president arrived in New York on Sunday (Sep. 20). In his speech, he will advocate for negotiation as a means of resolving disputes, respect for international humanitarian law, and non-interference in the internal affairs of other countries. Lula will present Brazil’s perspective on the main issues on the international agenda.

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Reform of the United Nations, particularly its Security Council, will be among the topics to be addressed. For years, Brazil has advocated for updating the composition and functioning of the body and has criticized its inability to respond effectively to international conflicts.

Lula will hold bilateral talks with other heads of state, in addition to meeting with UN Secretary-General António Guterres, who is in the final stages of his term at the helm of the international organization. He will also meet with New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, the progressive Democrat who took office at the beginning of the year.

This will be Lula’s 11th appearance at the United Nations General Assembly as president of Brazil. During his three terms in office, he has only missed the assembly once, in 2010.

Trump

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has not provided any information on the possibility of a meeting between Lula and US President Donald Trump before he returns to Brazil on Tuesday (22).

The US president will be the second speaker, immediately after Lula, raising the possibility that the two leaders could cross paths behind the scenes in the plenary hall. Last year, they briefly encountered each other as Lula was leaving the stage after his speech and Trump was preparing to deliver his address.