Why Brazil Always Speaks First at the UN General Assembly

Brazil will open the UN General Assembly's general debate on Tuesday, a tradition upheld for seven decades despite no written rule mandating it. The United States follows as second speaker. The practice began in 1955 when Brazil volunteered to speak first, as no country wanted the protocol responsibility. Other theories suggest it was recognition of diplomat Oswaldo Aranha or compensation for Brazil's exclusion from the Security Council. The tradition was broken only in 1983 and 1984, when US President Ronald Reagan spoke first. Brazil's opening slot is considered a key platform for its foreign policy.