Jamil Chad With a diplomatic twist, Lula uses Amazon to reposition Brazil in the world 11/16/2022 13:15

For years Amazon was at the center of the world. But around Brazil. This Wednesday, President-elect Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva began a transformation of that stance in Sharm El Sheikh. But the UN Climate Conference trip wasn’t just about climate.

When Lula took the stage at COP27, he presented a radical change in Brazil’s foreign policy and used the very Amazon as a tool to promote the country’s new inclusion in the world. In return, it will demand transformation in resources and international institutions, from the richest to the poorest.

The president-elect has said what rich countries want to hear: reducing deforestation is the government’s top priority and cooperation will be necessary. But he also made it clear that this would be a tough moment and reminded that more than a decade after advanced economies have committed resources, not a penny has yet been paid. “I came back as more of a collector,” Lula said.

The president-elect also made it clear that his participation in the international debate would be full of greetings to developing and poorer countries. A world alliance to end hunger and reduce inequalities has proposed a banner aimed at repositioning Brazil as a leader among developing countries and in regions such as Africa and Latin America.

As UOL predicted, Lula also made it clear that Brazil would be on its way to major international summits. An international meeting between Amazon countries in 2023, the G20 summit in 2024 with a climate highlight, and COP30 in 2025.

Another pillar of his foreign policy will be to reform international institutions, precisely to give developing countries a greater voice. For that, the UN needs to “progress”. The world has changed, countries have changed,” he said.

According to him, the institution cannot be left in the hands of the victors of the Second World War. “The world needs global governance, especially in terms of climate,” he said.