As world leaders gathered in New York for the 80th United Nations General Assembly High-Level Week (September 21-27, 2025), a noticeable tension hung in the air: growing attacks, financing cuts, and weakened commitments on multilateralism from powerful states and leaders. Yet amid the noise, many Latin American leaders offered a different tone — a firm commitment to dialogue and cooperation, even as they face significant challenges back home, such as rising inequality, migration, democratic backsliding, and the worsening impacts of climate change.
From Uruguay to Chile, Brazil to Peru, Paraguay to Suriname, the region’s leaders brought messages that largely reinforced their commitment to multilateralism, while seeking to tackle shared regional challenges ranging from high inequality and runaway climate change to emerging threats to domestic peace. While exceptions remain (notably Argentina’s current leadership), Latin America stood out as a bloc resisting the global drift toward isolationism and unilateralism.
Brazil
As per tradition, Brazil, through its President Lula da Silva, opened the UNGA 80 general debate with a firm defense of multilateralism and a sharp critique of increasing unilateral interventions, violations of sovereignty, arbitrary sanctions, and democratic backsliding. He warned of growing polarization and instability in Latin America and the Caribbean, urging dialogue with all regional actors to maintain the region as a zone of peace. Citing recent U.S. strikes on alleged drug trafficking vessels off the coast of Venezuela, he further called for cooperation on curbing money laundering and the arms trade, rather than pursuing militarized responses, stating that “using lethal force in situations that do not constitute armed conflict is tantamount to executing people without trial.”
Lula also renewed calls to expand the UN Security Council to reflect today’s global realities and criticized the U.S. for blocking visas for delegates traveling from Palestine. Looking ahead to COP30 this November in Brazil, he reaffirmed what he considers the urgent need for a UN Climate Change Council and denounced the profound inequalities that enable wealthy nations to maintain high living standards at the expense of two centuries of emissions. He declared Belém the “COP of truth,” emphasizing his view that demanding greater ambition and equitable access to resources and technologies is not charity, but a matter of global justice.
Colombia
Building on the recent wave of international recognition in favor of a Palestinian state, President Gustavo Petro of Colombia delivered a speech that focused on the situation in Gaza. He urged the international community to go beyond diplomacy and called for the establishment of an international task force, contending that “genocide must be stopped with what follows diplomacy.” He also emphasized Latin America’s leadership on sustainable development, stressing the need to finance new climate initiatives. Similarly to Brazil’s President, he sharply criticized the U.S. approach to alleged drug traffickers in the Caribbean, stating that America’s “anti-drug policy is not meant to stop cocaine coming to the United States, but to dominate the people of the South as a whole.”
Petro concluded by calling for “a humanity that is united and free.” Following his speech, President Petro left the UN headquarters to join a pro-Palestine protest, prompting the U.S. to revoke his visa in response to him asking U.S. soldiers to disobey Trump. Petro accused the U.S. government of violating diplomatic immunity norms for leaders attending UNGA, renewing his call for the United Nations headquarters to be relocated.
Suriname
In her debut address to the UN, Suriname’s newly elected President Dr. Jennifer Geerlings-Simons issued a strong call for institutional reform, urging the United Nations to reflect today’s global realities, particularly the increase in Member States since 1945 and the liberation of formerly colonized nations. She advocated for the expansion of the Security Council, including permanent seats for Brazil, India, and an African nation, along with a rotating seat for Small Island Developing States and low-lying coastal countries. Reaffirming Suriname’s commitment to dialogue over conflict, she voiced concern over the global rise in war and violence. “The United Nations will only be successful,” she warned, “If all nations are committed to the implementation of those matters we agree upon and the resolutions we adopt.” Her remarks further underscored the deep inequality of the climate crisis, one of the most important issues for the Caribbean in multilateral negotiations, stressing that those who contribute the least suffer the most, and urging major emitters to take greater responsibility. She closed with an appeal for a more just multilateral order, declaring: “Aggression and military force should be replaced with peaceful resolutions and dialogue.”
Latin American Internationalism Through the UN
Latin America’s projection of a progressive, internationalist vision is neither incidental nor new. The region’s political and cultural identity has long been shaped by independence movements, indigenous recognition, labor struggles, and climate justice activism. The region has endured the legacies of colonization, authoritarianism, and economic exploitation. While the region has tried, and failed, to achieve a successful regional bloc, Latin American countries have continued to support multilateralism. For example, the Prime Minister of Barbados, Mia Mottley, is at the forefront of calls for integrating international financial architecture reform with climate and debt challenges through the Bridgetown Initiative, which has brought Global South leaders together to confront shared challenges. While the region is not heterogenous in its positions, global solidarity was further underscored when representatives from 11 Latin American countries walked out of Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu’s speech, in protest against atrocities in Gaza.
With the next Secretary-General of the UN expected to come from Latin America and the Caribbean (as per the custom of regional rotation), the region stands poised to shape global governance in a meaningful way. That choice carries both symbolic and practical weight: a chance to bring the Global South’s voice closer to the center of international decision-making, including in response to the UN’s present extreme liquidity crisis and UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ response outlined in his UN80 initiative. Chilean president Gabriel Boric nominated the country’s former president, Michelle Bachelet, to serve as Mr. Guterres’ successor in his General Assembly High-Level Week speech, emphasizing that she would be the first woman to occupy the role. Indeed, the chorus favoring a woman as the next Secretary-General continues to grow louder, with many Latin American and Caribbean women up to the task.
At the 80th United Nations General Assembly, in an era of mounting challenges to multilateralism, many Latin American leaders emphasized global leadership rooted in justice and a commitment to dialogue and cooperation — recognizing that many of today’s crises are shared and require collective solutions. The world would do well to listen.
While Others Retreat, Latin America and the Caribbean Embraced Multilateralism at UNGA 80
By Rebecca Snyder
International & Regional Organizations
As world leaders gathered in New York for the 80th United Nations General Assembly High-Level Week (September 21-27, 2025), a noticeable tension hung in the air: growing attacks, financing cuts, and weakened commitments on multilateralism from powerful states and leaders. Yet amid the noise, many Latin American leaders offered a different tone — a firm commitment to dialogue and cooperation, even as they face significant challenges back home, such as rising inequality, migration, democratic backsliding, and the worsening impacts of climate change.
From Uruguay to Chile, Brazil to Peru, Paraguay to Suriname, the region’s leaders brought messages that largely reinforced their commitment to multilateralism, while seeking to tackle shared regional challenges ranging from high inequality and runaway climate change to emerging threats to domestic peace. While exceptions remain (notably Argentina’s current leadership), Latin America stood out as a bloc resisting the global drift toward isolationism and unilateralism.
Brazil
As per tradition, Brazil, through its President Lula da Silva, opened the UNGA 80 general debate with a firm defense of multilateralism and a sharp critique of increasing unilateral interventions, violations of sovereignty, arbitrary sanctions, and democratic backsliding. He warned of growing polarization and instability in Latin America and the Caribbean, urging dialogue with all regional actors to maintain the region as a zone of peace. Citing recent U.S. strikes on alleged drug trafficking vessels off the coast of Venezuela, he further called for cooperation on curbing money laundering and the arms trade, rather than pursuing militarized responses, stating that “using lethal force in situations that do not constitute armed conflict is tantamount to executing people without trial.”
Lula also renewed calls to expand the UN Security Council to reflect today’s global realities and criticized the U.S. for blocking visas for delegates traveling from Palestine. Looking ahead to COP30 this November in Brazil, he reaffirmed what he considers the urgent need for a UN Climate Change Council and denounced the profound inequalities that enable wealthy nations to maintain high living standards at the expense of two centuries of emissions. He declared Belém the “COP of truth,” emphasizing his view that demanding greater ambition and equitable access to resources and technologies is not charity, but a matter of global justice.
Colombia
Building on the recent wave of international recognition in favor of a Palestinian state, President Gustavo Petro of Colombia delivered a speech that focused on the situation in Gaza. He urged the international community to go beyond diplomacy and called for the establishment of an international task force, contending that “genocide must be stopped with what follows diplomacy.” He also emphasized Latin America’s leadership on sustainable development, stressing the need to finance new climate initiatives. Similarly to Brazil’s President, he sharply criticized the U.S. approach to alleged drug traffickers in the Caribbean, stating that America’s “anti-drug policy is not meant to stop cocaine coming to the United States, but to dominate the people of the South as a whole.”
Petro concluded by calling for “a humanity that is united and free.” Following his speech, President Petro left the UN headquarters to join a pro-Palestine protest, prompting the U.S. to revoke his visa in response to him asking U.S. soldiers to disobey Trump. Petro accused the U.S. government of violating diplomatic immunity norms for leaders attending UNGA, renewing his call for the United Nations headquarters to be relocated.
Suriname
In her debut address to the UN, Suriname’s newly elected President Dr. Jennifer Geerlings-Simons issued a strong call for institutional reform, urging the United Nations to reflect today’s global realities, particularly the increase in Member States since 1945 and the liberation of formerly colonized nations. She advocated for the expansion of the Security Council, including permanent seats for Brazil, India, and an African nation, along with a rotating seat for Small Island Developing States and low-lying coastal countries. Reaffirming Suriname’s commitment to dialogue over conflict, she voiced concern over the global rise in war and violence. “The United Nations will only be successful,” she warned, “If all nations are committed to the implementation of those matters we agree upon and the resolutions we adopt.” Her remarks further underscored the deep inequality of the climate crisis, one of the most important issues for the Caribbean in multilateral negotiations, stressing that those who contribute the least suffer the most, and urging major emitters to take greater responsibility. She closed with an appeal for a more just multilateral order, declaring: “Aggression and military force should be replaced with peaceful resolutions and dialogue.”
Latin American Internationalism Through the UN
Latin America’s projection of a progressive, internationalist vision is neither incidental nor new. The region’s political and cultural identity has long been shaped by independence movements, indigenous recognition, labor struggles, and climate justice activism. The region has endured the legacies of colonization, authoritarianism, and economic exploitation. While the region has tried, and failed, to achieve a successful regional bloc, Latin American countries have continued to support multilateralism. For example, the Prime Minister of Barbados, Mia Mottley, is at the forefront of calls for integrating international financial architecture reform with climate and debt challenges through the Bridgetown Initiative, which has brought Global South leaders together to confront shared challenges. While the region is not heterogenous in its positions, global solidarity was further underscored when representatives from 11 Latin American countries walked out of Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu’s speech, in protest against atrocities in Gaza.
With the next Secretary-General of the UN expected to come from Latin America and the Caribbean (as per the custom of regional rotation), the region stands poised to shape global governance in a meaningful way. That choice carries both symbolic and practical weight: a chance to bring the Global South’s voice closer to the center of international decision-making, including in response to the UN’s present extreme liquidity crisis and UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ response outlined in his UN80 initiative. Chilean president Gabriel Boric nominated the country’s former president, Michelle Bachelet, to serve as Mr. Guterres’ successor in his General Assembly High-Level Week speech, emphasizing that she would be the first woman to occupy the role. Indeed, the chorus favoring a woman as the next Secretary-General continues to grow louder, with many Latin American and Caribbean women up to the task.
At the 80th United Nations General Assembly, in an era of mounting challenges to multilateralism, many Latin American leaders emphasized global leadership rooted in justice and a commitment to dialogue and cooperation — recognizing that many of today’s crises are shared and require collective solutions. The world would do well to listen.
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