Brazilian President Lula delivered a sharp critique of the UN Security Council’s veto power during his opening speech at the 81st UN General Assembly on September 22, 2026.

Here are the key quotes and the context behind them.

📝 Key Quotes on the Veto Power

Lula’s criticism focused on how the veto has paralyzed the Council and granted impunity to major powers.

· On the veto’s origins and consequences: “In 1946, already in the first session of this assembly, Brazil warned of the high price the international community would pay for the right of veto. This vice conferred upon the great powers the privilege of senselessness.”

· On the Council’s paralysis: “We are all hostages to the immobility of a Security Council that does not fulfill its role.”

· On the broader failure of the UN: “The UN is failing in one of its highest missions: to save humanity from the scourge of war. Its credibility has never been lower.”

· On the “law of the stronger”: “Concessions to the law of the stronger have surpassed all limits. This is not idealism, but pure realism.”

🌍 Context Behind the Criticism

· A Long-Standing Position: Brazil has advocated for years to reform the Security Council’s composition and working methods, arguing it is unable to effectively respond to modern conflicts .

· The “Original Sin”: Lula framed the veto as a “vice” or “original sin” built into the UN Charter from the start, which allows the five permanent members (US, UK, France, China, Russia) to block action .

· The Triggering Moment: The speech came amid intensifying global conflicts. Lula noted that 2025 alone saw the “highest number of armed conflicts since World War II,” highlighting the Council’s failure to act on wars in Ukraine and the Middle East .

· Diplomatic Signaling: Lula spoke immediately before U.S. President Donald Trump. His emphasis on sovereignty and warnings against “hegemonic temptations” were seen as a direct counterpoint to the U.S. administration’s policies .

Turkey was also a strong critic of violence from Israel and America.

“We are faced with a genocidal mindset that cannot get enough of killing,” he asserted. (DW) “We are faced with an extremely serious situation. No one with a sense of humanity, mercy or compassion, no one guided by justice and conscience, can possibly remain indifferent to this picture.” 

Erdogan, the longstanding leader of NATO’s only majority Muslim member, is known as a frequently staunch critic of Israel and its government. The two countries are also at odds over the post-civil war situation in their mutual neighbor Syria. 

Last month, Turkey announced it had sought an arrest warrant for Benjamin Netanyahu for alleged genocide, with Netanyahu’s office responding that the Israeli prime minister was “unimpressed by Turkey’s hypocrisy.”  (DW)

Trump did not back down from his warmongering.

In fact, Trump’s speech at the UN General Assembly earlier today reinforced his aggressive posture rather than backing down.

DeepSeek:

🔥 Iran: Threat of “Annihilation” Intensified

Trump escalated his rhetoric, framing the choice as a deal or total destruction. Key quotes include:

· “Do I annihilate the Islamic Republic and do it quickly… or do I drive them into hell with no chance of survival.”

· He predicted a deal would happen only after the U.S. midterm elections, implying continued pressure until then.

🌎 Latin America: Explicit Military Threats

He explicitly reserved the right to use force in the Western Hemisphere:

· “If necessary, we will use our unmatched military might to secure the vital national interests of the United States.”

· He justified the raid that captured Venezuela’s Maduro with: “To the victor belong the spoils.”

⚖️ Broader Context

· Ukraine: He mentioned working for peace but paired it with a warning about new sanctions.
· Congressional Pushback: His military actions face domestic resistance, including a Senate vote aimed at preventing military action against Venezuela without approval.

In short, his address was a reaffirmation of his willingness to use force, not a step back from it.

With Deep Seek

I expected something more lively today