Lula at UN rebukes Trump, defends sovereignty and democracy

Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva used his Tuesday speech at the UN General Assembly in New York to criticize the Trump administration's actions and defend the sovereignty of nations, particularly in Latin America, without directly naming the US president. Lula stated that "Brazil does not fit in anyone's backyard," addressing growing concerns over US military and political influence in the region. He also warned that democracy is "again at risk" due to external interference in electoral processes, and advocated for multilateral principles amid the UN's declining credibility as a forum for resolving armed conflicts. With Brazil's election 12 days away, Lula framed the vote as a choice between "democracy and negationism," referring to opponent Flávio Bolsonaro. He also defended Brazil's control over its mineral resources, criticized big tech companies, and addressed the unstable US-Brazil relationship marked by sanctions and tariffs.