Brazil’s President Lula Engages with U.S. Officials During U.N. Visit
Brazil’s socialist leader, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, arrived in New York on Sunday night ahead of the 81st session of the U.N. General Assembly. Reports indicate that he is accompanied by a delegation of 73 members, including First Lady Rosângela “Janja” Lula da Silva and four government ministers. Lula is expected to be the first head of state to address the General Assembly’s high-level debate, a tradition that dates back to the post-World War II era. Following his speech, former President Donald Trump is slated to speak.
According to various Brazilian outlets, Lula is set to meet with New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani on Monday morning, just a day ahead of his speech. Mamdani is said to have requested the meeting, which will take place at the residence of the Brazilian ambassador to the U.N. where Lula is staying.
In the evening, Lula is also scheduled to meet with Senator Bernie Sanders. Reports from left-leaning Brazilian publications highlight Sanders’ long-standing support for democracy and progressive causes in Brazil, particularly during Lula’s imprisonment and the impeachment of former President Dilma Rousseff. It’s interesting, though, that Sanders hasn’t spoken much about the current Brazilian government’s repression of conservative voices.
Interestingly, certain factions within Brazil’s far-left Workers’ Party have previously described Mamdani as having the potential to renew global leftist movements. An unnamed government official suggested that Lula’s engagement with Mamdani may create some “friction” with Trump, especially given that both nations are currently navigating sensitive trade discussions. Meanwhile, reports indicate that Lula will not be meeting with Trump during his time in New York, although a spontaneous meeting on Tuesday isn’t completely off the table.
Earlier on Monday, Lula is expected to have a meeting with Uruguayan President Yamandú Orsí, who, like Lula, represents one of the last democratically elected leftist governments in South America. This region has seen a surge in conservative leadership recently, with figures like Javier Milei in Argentina and Keiko Fujimori in Peru making headlines.
Beyond his speech, Lula plans to meet with U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres. Following this, he intends to return to Brazil shortly after delivering his address to focus on his campaign for the presidential election scheduled for October 4, where he is seeking another term. Brazil’s Foreign Minister, Mauro Vieira, will take part in other U.N. events during the week.
The upcoming election features 13 candidates, and as no one is likely to win outright in the first round, many expect a runoff between Lula and his closest opponent, conservative Senator Flavio Bolsonaro. Recent polling shows that Lula’s initial lead has dwindled, leading to a neck-and-neck race as both candidates are considered “technically tied” for the potential second round.
