At the G20, Brazil's Foreign Minister says that 'the international order is not effective' and calls for reform of the UN Security Council.

247 - Brazil's Foreign Minister, Mauro Vieira, spoke at both debate sessions of the G20 meeting – which brings together the 20 largest economies in the world. At the event, the minister held 14 bilateral meetings with the foreign ministers of the Netherlands, Nigeria, Russia, Indonesia, the United States, the United Arab Emirates, China, Singapore, Oman, Egypt, Germany, Spain, and Turkey, in addition to a working meeting with the Foreign Minister of the Republic of India, Subrahmanyam Jaishankar.

In one of his speeches, the Brazilian Foreign Minister spoke about the need to "reform" the United Nations Security Council in order to make it more efficient.

Represented by Vieira, the Brazilian government used the occasion to once again condemn unilateral sanctions in response to conflicts fought in different parts of the world.

Session 1: Strengthening multilateralism and the need for reforms / food security

Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar,

Foreign ministers, heads of delegation, representatives of international organizations,

It is a great honor to represent Brazil at this meeting. Under President Lula's leadership, our country once again has an active voice in the international system, ready to engage constructively with all nations and contribute to global efforts to promote peace and development.

Allow me to congratulate India on its work leading the G20 Presidency this year and express our appreciation for the work of our Indonesian colleagues last year. Brazil is honored to join the "troika" and will strive to support the group's activities.

Honorable Ministers,

The world is going through a period of multiple crises: health, climate, energy, inequality, conflict, and the feeling that the international order, as it stands, is no longer effective or legitimate. None of these crises can be overcome by a single country in isolation; in reality, there is a strong demand for collective action.

In this context, we firmly believe that G20 members can and should do more to address current global challenges and strengthen cooperation on development, with the aim of achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.

Hunger and food insecurity have increased in many countries around the world, and Brazil is no exception to this trend. The current global food crisis has been caused by multiple and interrelated factors, including structural elements such as inequality between and within countries, the COVID-19 pandemic, the conflict in Ukraine, and unilateral sanctions which, in addition to being illegal under international law, do not help to reduce pressure on global food chains and energy prices.

President Lula proposed a global partnership for food security, aiming to eradicate hunger and reduce inequalities worldwide. In his own words, this is a "civilizational challenge for the entire planet," which can only be addressed with political will and strengthened multilateralism. To contribute to combating this critical problem, the G20 could work in closer coordination with international agencies such as the World Food Programme and strengthen partnerships in this area.

Brazil is aware of its responsibility as one of the largest food suppliers, in the context of rising inflation and global demand. We are doing our part by ensuring one of the most sustainable agriculture and livestock farming systems on the planet. Under President Lula's leadership, we are firmly committed to combating climate change, protecting the environment, and reversing biodiversity loss. In parallel, we view the full normalization of fertilizer production and trade as a growing concern, both from a commercial and humanitarian perspective.

There is also an opportunity for the G20 to continue advancing the energy transition agenda, generating benefits for both developed and developing countries. As a country with one of the cleanest energy matrices in the world, Brazil is ready to collaborate and share its experience in this field.

We will spare no effort to continue playing a leading role in negotiations under the UNFCCC and the Paris Agreement. The time has come for developed countries to deliver on their commitments and accelerate the flow of climate finance to developing countries.

It is also crucially important to advance the liberalization of agricultural trade in the post-M12 World Trade Organization, and to avoid restrictive measures.

Diplomacy and multilateralism are more necessary than ever, in the name of global economic recovery, the eradication of hunger, and guarantees of cooperation in development and the full implementation of the 2030 Agenda.

The G20 members have a responsibility to advance the development cooperation agenda as a means of contributing to stability and peace.

Mr. President,

Given all these challenges, the need to reform global governance institutions and make them more representative of today's realities becomes even more urgent. This applies both to the Bretton Woods institutions and to the global peace and security architecture centered on the United Nations. We are committed and will continue to work to strengthen multilateralism, to prevent its fragmentation, and to improve it through comprehensive reforms.

The debate on reforming the UN Security Council has dragged on for far too long. The time has come for significant progress in the negotiations. The international community must push for a reform of the Council that includes expanding both its non-permanent and permanent seats, as well as greater participation from developing countries, in order to make it more representative, legitimate and therefore more effective.

Developing countries must be fully included and represented in key decision-making bodies. This is our best chance to work together and offer global solutions to global challenges.

Thank you.

Session 2: Counterterrorism: New and Emerging Threats / Global Talent Mapping / Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Mitigation

Minister Jaishankar,

Dear colleagues,

Brazil is fully committed to the principles of international law and recognizes the central role played by the United Nations in matters of peace and security, including cooperation in combating terrorist threats.

We unequivocally condemn all acts of terrorism, regardless of their motivations or the perpetrators. We also believe that any act of terrorism is a crime that cannot be justified in any way.

Brazil also attaches great importance to the adoption of the Convention on International Terrorism. In its absence, the United Nations Global Counterterrorism Strategy remains the most comprehensive guideline on the subject. It emanates from the most representative forum of the United Nations, its General Assembly, and therefore encompasses a wide range of views and needs.

Dear colleagues,

The Brazilian government currently maintains databases that gather a wide range of information aimed at predicting gaps in emerging skills in our labor market.

According to the Brazilian Ministry of Labor and Employment, these databases enable the country to effectively respond to the need to map workforce skills and estimate changes that may result from the advent of new technologies, which are progressively and continuously transforming the economy.

However, our Ministry of Labor and Employment is open to receiving support from specialized international organizations, with the aim of strengthening its mapping capabilities. We believe that we should avoid duplication of efforts in relation to mapping developed by other international organizations, such as the ILO, for example.

Mr. President,

Climate change, environmental protection, and sustainable development are absolute priorities for the new Brazilian government.

Preventing and mitigating the effects of climate change and reducing the risk of disasters are therefore fundamental and inseparable parts of the efforts made to promote the safety and well-being of our population.

In this spirit, we renew our commitment to achieving the objectives set out within the framework of the Sendai Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction, the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and the agreements signed under the UNFCCC.

We have been working to coordinate all levels and agencies of government through comprehensive public policies, supported by the best available scientific evidence, in an effort to transform these commitments into reality.

Science and technology play a central role in practice in producing evidence capable of guiding policies and decisions in the field of disaster prevention and mitigation. In fact, there is a growing demand for multidisciplinary scientific research focused on disaster risk management and reduction.

In the field of international cooperation, we believe that the G20 countries have much to share with each other and with the international community. It is essential to increase the level of engagement of G20 member countries around the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction and Prevention. We should also encourage the work carried out by the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction.

Through low-cost and easily implemented actions, Brazil has developed a set of best practices in the field of disaster prevention and mitigation. This has allowed the implementation of successful projects in states and municipalities of all levels of development and budgetary availability. We are ready to share this experience.

Thank you.