🔴 Lula discursa na sessão inaugural do Fórum Econômico Internacional da América Latina

President Lula's Speech at the International Economic Forum of Latin America and the Caribbean

Opening Remarks

• President Lula expresses gratitude for the invitation to participate in the forum, emphasizing the importance of discussing regional interests among Latin American leaders.

Historical Context

• He reflects on the Congress of 1826, highlighting its role in shaping modern international law and principles such as peace maintenance and political independence.

Current Challenges in Regional Integration

• Lula notes that despite historical significance, past agreements have failed to foster effective regional institutions, leading to a regression in integration efforts.

• He critiques UNASUR's collapse due to intolerance and ideological divisions, resulting in a fragmented region more focused on external conflicts than internal unity.

The State of CELAC

• The president points out CELAC's paralysis despite attempts by leaders like President Petro to address military interventions affecting the region.

• He stresses that systemic challenges like COVID-19 and organized crime remain unaddressed due to lack of coordinated action.

Vision for Future Integration

• Lula argues for a new model of regionalism that acknowledges historical differences while learning from successful examples like the European Union.

• He emphasizes leveraging untapped resources—such as energy potential and biodiversity—to enhance competitive positioning globally.

Call for Pragmatism

• The president advocates for pragmatic partnerships within diverse options rather than ideological divides, asserting that unity strengthens resilience against global challenges.

Brazil’s Commitment to Democracy and Multilateralism

• Lula concludes by reaffirming Brazil's commitment to democracy, peace, multilateralism, and regional integration amidst global turbulence.

Economic Growth and Social Inclusion in Brazil

Overview of Trade and Economic Strategy

• Brazil's trade volume reached $629 billion, showcasing a strategy focused on diversifying partnerships with both traditional and emerging economies.

• The country has demonstrated that a new model of development emphasizing inclusion and sustainability is achievable. Since 2023, Brazil has outpaced global growth averages while controlling inflation and achieving the lowest unemployment rate in history.

Social Progress and Poverty Reduction

• Significant improvements include raising the minimum wage, increasing worker income, and enhancing tax justice for millions of Brazilians. As a result, Brazil exited the UN hunger map once again.

• Over two years, 17 million people have transitioned to higher social classes due to social inclusion efforts aimed at reducing poverty.

Commitment to Green Economy

• Brazil leads in green economy initiatives with 90% of its electricity matrix being renewable energy sources. It is also a leader in biofuels production. A plan for ecological transformation has identified $90 billion in projects to boost the green economy starting from 2023.

• Efforts are underway to gradually reduce dependence on fossil fuels through strategic planning and regional integration initiatives.

Regional Integration Efforts

• Brazil has concluded trade agreements with Mercosur partners such as Singapore and the European Free Trade Association after lengthy negotiations, including an agreement with the EU covering a market of 720 million people with a combined GDP of $22 trillion.

• Plans are set to expand commercial agreements with India, Mexico, Canada, UAE, Panama, Dominican Republic, El Salvador while updating existing agreements with Colombia and Ecuador as part of South American integration efforts.

Infrastructure Development for Trade Enhancement

• Ongoing infrastructure projects aim to improve roads, waterways, railways, ports, airports alongside digital connectivity which could potentially double intra-regional trade within a few years. The Brazilian government emphasizes neutrality regarding infrastructure management like that of the Panama Canal for efficient operations over three decades.

Financial Cooperation for Sustainable Development

• The Brazilian Development Bank (BNDES) plays an essential role in regional integration but requires more resources and cooperation from multilateral banks like CAF and others to realize these initiatives effectively.

Social Issues: Gender Violence and Political Stability

Addressing Gender Violence

• Latin America faces high rates of feminicide; statistics show that 11 women are murdered daily according to CEPAL data—this issue necessitates collective responsibility from all genders to combat violence against women effectively.

Importance of Dignity and Security

• Ensuring dignity through access to basic services is crucial for societal prosperity; combating misinformation is vital for stability within democracy as well as fostering long-term regional integration strategies involving civil society actors alongside private sectors.

Historical Context: Diplomacy vs Military Intervention

Lessons from History

• Historical patterns indicate that force cannot resolve deep-seated issues; neocolonialism attempts reflect outdated ideologies detrimental to progress.

U.S.-Latin America Relations

• President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s Good Neighbor Policy aimed at replacing military intervention with diplomacy highlights potential pathways toward mutual development interests based on fundamental freedoms: expression without manipulation; freedom of worship; rights against deprivation; security against fear through disarmament policies.

Lula's Vision for Brazil and Latin America

The Fight Against Hunger and Inequality

• Lula emphasizes that Brazil's primary battle is against hunger and inequality, advocating for technological investment and fair trade as essential tools for progress.

• He stresses the importance of rebuilding trust in regional integration, highlighting it as a challenging yet necessary task.

Economic Credentials and Regional Leadership

• Lula outlines Brazil's exceptional economic, geographic, demographic, political, and cultural credentials that position it to play a significant role globally.

• He calls for committed leadership to balance national interests within the region through institutional mechanisms.

Embracing Diversity in Political Will

• The necessity of coexisting with diverse political wills is highlighted as crucial for maintaining peace and cooperation in Latin America and the Caribbean.

• Lula asserts that this diversity must be managed under international law to ensure sovereign engagement on the world stage.

Personal Journey: Overcoming Economic Challenges

• Reflecting on his first presidency at age 57 in 2013, Lula recalls Brazil’s struggles with an unpayable external debt and reliance on IMF assistance.

• He shares how his administration initiated social inclusion reforms that improved wealth distribution among Brazilians, particularly focusing on poverty alleviation.

Achievements During His Presidency

• Under Lula’s leadership, Brazil paid off its IMF debt while accumulating $270 billion in international reserves; he notes a significant economic growth rate of 7.5% by the end of his term.

• He contrasts this with current challenges faced by Brazil, including low industrial output and inflation issues but expresses optimism about future growth driven by inclusive policies.

The Importance of Resource Management

• Lula discusses critical minerals and rare earth elements' potential to enrich nations if processed domestically rather than exported raw materials for foreign transformation.

• He advocates for partnerships that allow countries to develop their resources into finished products locally to generate jobs and wealth within their borders.

Collective Action Among Latin American Nations

• Concluding his speech, Lula reflects on historical colonization experiences across Latin America, emphasizing the need for collective action rather than individual efforts from each country to solve regional problems.

• He recounts past successes in eradicating hunger during his presidency while urging leaders to prioritize improving citizens' lives over political ambitions or personal gain.

A Call for Unity

• Lula passionately calls upon all Latin American nations—Chileans, Argentinians, Colombians—to unite in addressing shared challenges; he warns against remaining stagnant or poor without collaborative efforts moving forward into the century ahead.

Economic Relations Between Brazil and Panama

Expansion of Trade

• The economic relationship between Brazil and Panama has seen a historic expansion, with trade increasing by 78% in 2025, reaching $1.6 billion.

• This growth is primarily driven by Brazilian exports of oil and its derivatives.

• Brazil ranks as the 15th largest user of the Panama Canal, utilizing it for nearly 7 million tons of exports annually.

Integration in Latin America

• President Lula emphasized the abundant resources available in Latin America, including clean energy and rare minerals, during his speech at the forum.

• He pointed out that ideological divisions hinder regional unity and advocated for greater integration among countries.

Pragmatism Over Ideology

• Lula stated that Latin America and the Caribbean are unique regions that must embrace pragmatic approaches to overcome ideological differences.

• He argued that remaining divided makes all nations more vulnerable and stressed the importance of building strong partnerships both within and outside the region.

Lula's Visit to Panama

Diplomatic Engagement

• During his visit, President Lula is scheduled to meet with Panamanian President José Raul Mulino.

• Lula will receive Panama's highest honor, the Manuel Amador Guerreiro Order, highlighting diplomatic ties between the two nations.

Ceremonial Activities

• Following their meeting, both presidents will participate in a signing ceremony for various acts and address the press regarding their discussions.

Public Policy on Drug Trafficking

Asset Seizure Initiatives

• In recent years, there have been significant efforts to auction assets linked to drug trafficking; 502 auctions were held last year alone.

• One auction involving properties tied to drug trafficking generated over R$4 million—a record amount for this sector.

Impact on Public Safety

• These initiatives have become a significant public policy since 2019, generating important revenue for public coffers while providing returns to society affected by organized crime.

Mechanisms for Asset Recovery

Early Alienation Measures

• The use of early alienation measures has facilitated the sale of traffickers' assets quickly.

• This legal provision helps remove criminal assets from circulation swiftly while minimizing depreciation losses and maximizing revenue collection.