Brazil’s President of the Republic Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva stressed the need for harmony among Latin American and Caribbean countries during the opening of the 9th Meeting of Heads of State and Government of the Latin American and Caribbean States - CELAC. Held in Tegucigalpa, the capital of Honduras, the ceremony addressed priority issues for the region to reinforce regional integration.

Lula also advocated for a unified candidacy from the region for the United Nations (UN) secretary general position. “CELAC can contribute to reviving the credibility of the UN by electing the organization’s first woman Secretary General,” Lula stated.

The Brazilian leader also spoke about the need to strengthen union among Latin American and Caribbean countries in the face of the risk of returning to the condition of a zone of influence, with freedom and self-determination as the first elements to be hit. Lula mentioned the preparation of other regions in response to the ongoing transformations —such as Asia, with ASEAN, and the European Union, with NATO.

“Latin America and the Caribbean must redefine their place in the new unfolding global order. Our international insertion must not be guided only by defensive interests. We need an action program structured around three themes that require collective action,” Lula stated.

Our countries will only be safe if they can eradicate hunger, generate well-being, and ensure opportunities for all”
Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva,
President of Brazil

DEMOCRACY — As a response to these global changes. President Lula listed three main actions to be discussed jointly by Latin American and Caribbean countries: strengthening democracy, climate change, and economic and commercial integration.

“No country can impose its political system upon another. However, it was during the democratic periods that Brazil advanced the most in overcoming its social and economic challenges. In the past years, we have watched the erosion of trust in politics, which opened space for authoritarian projects,” Lula said.

DISINFORMATION — Furthermore, the President mentioned the distortion of freedom of expression with the advancement of disinformation and extremism disseminated through online platforms. “Negationists despise science and culture and even universities are under attack. Powerful individuals and companies — which consider themselves above the law— invest against the sovereignty of our countries. It is tragic that attempts at coups d’état have once again become part of our daily lives,” he stated.

HUNGER ERADICATION — According to Lula, ensuring food security and access to opportunities are one of the pillars to protect the countries. The President also invited the participants to join the Global Alliance against Hunger and Poverty. “Our countries will only be safe if they can eradicate hunger, generate well-being, and ensure opportunities for all. In line with CELAC’s Food and Nutritional Security Plan, Brazil launched —during its G20 Presidency— the Global Alliance against Hunger and Poverty. We invite everyone to join this initiative, which will begin its activities with projects in Haiti and the Dominican Republic,” he registered.

CLIMATE CHANGE — The second joint theme advocated by Lula concerns the region’s status as the most vulnerable on the planet. In this context, he highlighted COP30, which will take place in Belém, the capital of Pará, in November this year. There, wealthy countries will be reminded of their responsibility to commit to emission reduction targets and climate financing goals. “COP30, in the very heart of the Amazon, will not only be Brazil’s COP, but the COP of the entire Latin American and Caribbean region. We must demand from the rich countries emission reduction goals in line with the Paris Agreement and financing goals that meet the needs of a just transition,” he stressed.

FUND — Another  highlight of President Lula’s speech was the Tropical Forest Forever Fund, a Brazilian initiative that will be launched at COP30. The Fund will financially compensate the countries that conserve their tropical forests.

“The Tropical Forests Forever Fund, which we will launch in Belém, will allow nations that preserve their forest cover to be compensated for their efforts. We are home to vast biodiversity and a rich source of renewable energy, including significant reserves of critical minerals, which must serve our own development,” Lula said.

ECONOMIC INTEGRATION — Economic and commercial integration are key to protecting the countries against unilateral actions, stated the Brazilian President. As an example, Lula mentioned the five South American Integration Routes that aim to strengthen Brazil’s trade with its South American neighbors.

“In 2023, trade among Latin American and Caribbean countries corresponded to a mere 14% of the region’s exports. The annual trade volume that Brazil holds with CELAC countries is 86 billion dollars, larger than what we have with the United States and close to what we have with the European Union,” he highlighted.

The President underscored the need to promote the regional trade of goods and services, which will benefit, for example, from the union of energy and transportation networks. Moreover, strengthening regional financial institutions is fundamental.

“To expand our exchange, my administration is determined to reactivate ALADI’s Reciprocal Payments and Credits Agreement and to expand the Local Currency Payment System. Integrating transport, energy, and telecommunications networks helps bridge distances, lower costs, and foster synergies across production chains,” he argued.

PEACE ZONE — In closing his speech, President Lula stressed the need to keep Latin America and the Caribbean as a peace zone, recovering its diplomatic traditions. “We do not want wars or genocide. We need peace, development, and free trade. Maintaining Latin America and the Caribbean as a peace zone means working to ensure that force never overrides peaceful conflict resolution. Multilateralism is shaken every time we remain silent in the face of threats to the sovereignty of the countries of the region” Lula emphasized.