Brazil’s President, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, has criticised what he described as the growing dominance of powerful nations in global affairs, warning against unilateral actions that sideline international institutions.
Speaking on global governance, Lula said no leader, regardless of their country’s influence, has the right to impose decisions on others. He urged the permanent members of the United Nations Security Council to “change their behaviour” and return to the body’s original mandate of maintaining global peace.
“We cannot wake up every day and go to bed every night under threats issued by a president, sometimes through social media, escalating tensions and pushing the world toward conflict,” Lula said.
He expressed concern that major decisions affecting global stability are increasingly being taken without proper consultation within the United Nations system, despite those nations being key members.
The Brazilian leader argued that the UN is drifting from its founding purpose, established after the World War II to safeguard peace.
“The Security Council was created to guarantee peace, but today its permanent members have become, in effect, the ones driving conflict,” he stated.
Lula also warned against what he called a resurgence of “imperial behaviour” among global leaders, rejecting any return to authoritarian-style dominance in international relations.
“What troubles me is the return of leaders who act like emperors, believing they own the world,” he said.
“We do not want dictators, we do not want emperors.”
His remarks are expected to intensify ongoing debates around reforming the UN Security Council, particularly calls to rebalance power among its permanent members.
Brazil’s Lula slams ‘imperial attitudes’ of global powers, calls for UN reform
