Brazil’s President Luiz da Silva says the UN needs to become a “temple of peace” once again, as it confronts one of the most critical periods in its 80-year history.

Addressing the General Assembly at the opening of the 2026 General Debate, Mr da Silva expressed his indignation at the widespread attacks taking place on multilateralism worldwide. According to the Brazilian president, more effective diplomacy is the only way to address collective challenges successfully.

He said the organisation’s credibility had been weakened by paralysis in the Security Council, the use of veto powers, and growing geopolitical tensions.

“We are all held hostage by the inaction of the Security Council,” he said, stressing that Brazil had spoken out against the use of veto power by permanent members in the chamber since the first general assembly meeting in 1946.

The Brazilian president recalled that the previous year had seen the highest number of armed conflicts registered since the Second World War. He called for regional conflicts to be contained before they escalated into “tragedies of global proportions”.

Turning to the conflict in the Middle East, Mr da Silva said that “generations of Palestinians” will now carry “the pain and trauma left by the genocide of women and children”. The president criticised the expansion of Israeli settlements in the West Bank, saying it made a two-state solution increasingly difficult to achieve.

Mr da Silva also addressed the war between Russia and Ukraine, saying the conflict had continued to claim lives and that there would be “no winners on the battlefield”. He also highlighted key policies at home, noting that Brazil had once again made inroads against hunger and adopted a new law to combat corruption and organised crime.

He explained that this had led to a record level of seizures of drugs, assets and illicit funds.

“The fight against corruption shall remain relentless,” the Brazilian leader said. “No matter who it hurts. No one is above the law.”

(NAN)