The world has never seen Brazil as important as it is now, for energy transition, says Lula – 09/16/2024 – Brasília Hoje

President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT) said this Monday (16) that Brazil is currently experiencing an unprecedented moment of importance in the world, as a result of discussions on the energy transition and the climate transition.

The speech comes at a time when the country is facing a climate crisis, with severe drought in the North region and fires in different parts of the country.

“Brazil has probably never had any prospects in its history, any chance of gaining important positions in the world as it does now with the climate transition and the energy transition,” said the president.

“The world has never seen Brazil as so important, not just because of agribusiness, not just because of iron ore, not just because of soybeans and not just because of meat. It’s because Brazil, when it comes to energy, is an unbeatable country. We just need to be big, think big, wake up and make this dream a reality,” he added.

Lula attended the graduation ceremony of the Rio Branco Institute, the school that prepares diplomats.

The person honored as the current class’s patron was Ambassador José Maurício Bustani, who was the director-general of the OPCW (Organization for the Prescription of Chemical Weapons) and faced pressure from the United States in the alleged weapons of mass destruction episode. He ended up being fired from the organization and the weapons were never found.

Bustani had already been invited once to be the godfather of a Rio Branco class, in 2019. At the time, his name was vetoed by the Itamaraty command, at the time headed by the ultraconservative Ernesto Araújo.

Lula also added that the country should not miss the “chance” of energy transition by getting involved in wars. He mentioned in particular the war between Russia and Ukraine. Without naming names, he said that there are leaders who now want to meet with him to discuss the conflict, but who were not available before it broke out.

“That’s why it’s important for Brazil not to participate in the war in Ukraine and Russia. That’s why it’s important for Brazil to say: ‘we want peace, we don’t want war’,” he said.

“Those who want to talk to us could have talked to us before the war. That is why we condemn the massacre of women and children in Palestine, just as we condemn Hamas’ terrorism,” he added.

Lula then declared that he wants to maintain relations with all countries, regardless of ideology. In this case, he mentioned Venezuela, a country that has been facing a crisis due to dictator Nicolás Maduro’s insistence on not providing transparency regarding the results of the elections — which he claims to have won — and for increasing repression against the opposition.

“We have nothing against the United States, but we are sovereign. We have nothing against China, but we are sovereign. And Brazil wants to be with China, with India, with the United States, with Venezuela, with Argentina. Brazil wants to be with everyone,” he said.

During his speech, President Lula praised the diversity of the graduating class, with the presence of women and, in particular, black women. At that moment, he criticized the Brazilian judiciary, recalling that he had attended an inauguration where only white people were present. He then referred to “white supremacy.”

“The other day I went to the inauguration of a minister in court [no Superior Tribunal de Justiça]. It was a white supremacy that has nothing to do with Brazilian reality. I said that I didn’t see any ProUni students at that inauguration, I didn’t see any Fies students, it seemed like it was another world,” said the president.

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