Lula Expected to Oppose Foreign Interference in Final UN Speech of His Term - 17/09/2026 - World - Folha de S.Paulo

President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva is expected to oppose foreign interference in other countries’ domestic affairs in his speech at the UN General Assembly’s 81st session, scheduled for next Tuesday (22) in New York. The speech could be interpreted as a message to Donald Trump, amid concerns within the Brazilian government that the US could act to benefit Flávio Bolsonaro (PL), a potential opponent of Lula in a runoff.

According to Ambassador Carlos Márcio Bicalho Cozendey, secretary for Political Multilateral Affairs at Brazil’s Foreign Ministry, Lula is also expected to strongly defend multilateralism. He said Lula should "defend, as he has done, peace negotiations in various spheres, international humanitarian law and, without a doubt, non-interference in the internal affairs of other countries."

Lula will arrive in New York on Sunday (20) and leave on Tuesday (22). No meeting with Trump is expected, although a brief encounter behind the scenes has not been ruled out, as happened the previous year.

The speech is also expected to address the fight against factions such as the PCC and Comando Vermelho, a source of friction with the US, which classified the groups as terrorist organizations — a decision challenged by Lula but backed by Bolsonaro. Initiatives such as the Global Alliance Against Hunger and Poverty are also expected to be mentioned. Lula is scheduled to meet with UN Secretary-General António Guterres to discuss reform of the organization and the Security Council.