In Guyana, Lula calls for unity in the Global South: "Similarities contribute more than the aid of colonizers."
In a speech at CARICOM, the Brazilian president criticized the dependence of poorer countries on relations with former colonizers and wealthy nations, and promised to strengthen ties with the Caribbean.
247 - During Conference of Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), in GuyanaPresident Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT) delivered a forceful speech, highlighting the importance of unity among countries of the Global South and criticizing the predominance of relations with former colonizers and wealthier nations.
"For many years, we believed that our relations should only be with the countries that colonized us or rich countries. For a long time, Brazil turned its back on other regions, such as the Caribbean, Latin America, and Africa," the president stated.
"We made the decision to prioritize our relations with these regions. [But] our similarities help us much more than the help of our colonizers," he added. Lula also expressed regret for the failure to consolidate a strong relationship with the Caribbean, mentioning pressing issues such as food insecurity and the climate crisis faced by the region.
The Brazilian president criticized the lack of commitment from rich countries to transfer resources to the Global South to address the climate crisis, as well as excessive spending on military armaments, which result in the loss of innocent lives. Furthermore, he referred to the impacts of recent conflicts, such as the war in Ukraine and the genocide perpetrated by Israel against the Palestinian population in the Gaza Strip. "We will continue to fight for world peace," he stated.
The Brazilian leader emphasized the importance of investing in closer ties between Brazil and the Caribbean, proposing the creation of new trade routes and cooperation in strengthening Caribbean agriculture. He invited CARICOM member countries to join the Global Alliance Against Hunger and announced measures to respond to and prevent natural disasters. "We want to pave our way to the Caribbean through Venezuela, Guyana, and Suriname, with the goal of strengthening supply chains," he said.
"There are many opportunities to introduce Brazilian products to the Caribbean, we want to restore our diplomatic missions in the Caribbean, and we need to expand our vision and conquer a larger space in the world," Lula emphasized.
The president also advocated for reform of global power institutions, highlighting the need for greater representation for developing countries, and expressed urgency in responding to the situation in Haiti: "We must maintain our autonomy amidst geopolitical disputes. We must maintain peace in our region."