In a speech this Saturday at a meeting of the G7, a group of the world’s seven richest countries, in Hiroshima, Japan, Brazilian President Lula da Silva questioned the bloc’s own representativeness and legitimacy to tackle crises around the world.
Sitting next to US President Joe Biden, Lula, who attended the meeting as a guest 14 years after Brazil was not part of the bloc, also attacked the UN and defended another group of countries, the G20, of which Brazil is a full member. .
“The solution to the various challenges facing the world does not lie in the formation of antagonistic blocs or responses that include only a small group of countries. This is especially important in the context of the transition to a multipolar system, which will require profound changes in institutions, solutions will have legitimacy and effectiveness only if they are adopted and implemented in a democratic way,” the Brazilian said, making it clear that he did not agree with the fact that a small group of countries, such as the G7, makes decisions around the world.
Lula was very hesitant to accept the G7’s invitation to attend the Hiroshima meeting as a guest and only confirmed his presence at the last minute after being assured that he would have a place to speak.
In his speech, the President of Brazil criticized the UN and once again advocated for new countries to become permanent members of the Security Council, a presidency that Brazil had long sought, and lamented that large countries are asking for help from developing countries to solve international problems, but their demands are not met. “It makes no sense to call on developing countries to contribute to the resolution of the many crises the world is facing without their legitimate interests being served and without their adequate representation in the main bodies of global governance,” said Lula, then defending another bloc, the G20.
“The consolidation of the G20 as the main space for international economic consultation has been an undeniable achievement and will be even more effective with a composition that engages in dialogue with the demands and interests of all regions of the world and includes a more adequate representation of African countries.”