Brazil’s Lula Seeks Discussion on UN Security Council Reforms with Biden, Reports Reuters

SAO PAULO (Reuters) – Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva announced on Tuesday his intention to discuss potential reforms to the United Nations Security Council with U.S. President Joe Biden. Lula, a long-time advocate for Brazil and other nations to achieve permanent representation on the council, is set to meet Biden during the upcoming U.N. General Assembly in New York next month.

At last week’s BRICS summit in South Africa, Lula urged fellow member nations, including China and Russia, to support the inclusion of more countries as permanent members of the Security Council. He emphasized that the council’s composition should mirror contemporary global geopolitical realities rather than those established in the 1940s, proposing that countries like Brazil, India, Germany, Japan, and South Africa should be granted permanent status.

In a recent social media broadcast, Lula revealed that BRICS nations have agreed to discuss the establishment of a common currency for trade ahead of the next summit scheduled for the following year.

Furthermore, Lula expressed his hope that the Brazilian Congress would assist his government in prioritizing the welfare of the poor. This follows his signing of an executive order aimed at taxing closed-end and offshore funds. The proposed measures, pending congressional approval, are crucial for the administration’s efforts to enhance public revenue and achieve its goal of a zero primary deficit by next year, compensating for income tax exemptions granted to individuals.

Additionally, Lula is anticipated to announce a cabinet reshuffle soon to garner more congressional support. This may involve appointing members from centrist and center-right parties to key positions. He has also indicated that he is contemplating the creation of a new ministry focused on small- and medium-sized enterprises as a means to diversify his team without significantly altering the current cabinet structure.