Brazil’s Lula Defends Sovereignty and Calls for Regional Integration at UN

Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva defended national sovereignty during the opening ceremony of the 81st UN General Assembly in New York on September 22. He warned that foreign influence—particularly from the United States—has been used to interfere in Latin American electoral processes, citing Venezuela, Nicaragua, Haiti and Cuba. Lula condemned disinformation networks that distort public debate and urged vigilance against anti‑science campaigns, including anti‑vaccine movements. He also highlighted the erosion of climate‑change discourse at the G7 and G20 and called for renewed action. On security, Lula rejected foreign military involvement in Brazil’s fight against organized crime, instead proposing cooperation to curb arms trafficking and money laundering. He stressed that each country must chart its own path and that Brazil will remain sovereign.