By Devika K*- Modern Diplomacy
Lula’s work on multilateralism aligns with Brazil’s historical commitment to promote universal principles, national development, and international influence.
Brazil has demonstrated its support for multilateralism under President Lula da Silva’s direction which emphasised the role of Brazil striving for becoming a member of the UNSC to being a developed country which shows the state’s autonomy and its place in the developing international order. Lula’s work on multilateralism aligns with Brazil’s historical commitment to promote universal principles, national development, and international influence. Lula promoted Brazil’s reputation by actively participating in different multilateral treaties and international organizations. He was instrumental in the formation of BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa) and IBSA (India, Brazil, South Africa) during his first two terms as president (2003-2010) significantly enhancing Brazil’s global standing and influence: Since taking office in January 2023, he has successfully revived his foreign policy by striking a balance between long-standing alliances and the Southern agenda through strategically scheduled foreign visits. The multilateralism approach of Brazil is evident in the COP 27 summit held in Egypt in 2022 while collaborating the climate and environmental protection to provide a solution for a global cause with the support and cooperation with the Global South, Latin America, the Russia-Asian axis, and the West. Lula has made mending Brazil’s ties with its foreign allies a top priority. Having close ties with its neighbouring states like Argentina and maintaining balanced relations with the United States and China, Brazil has shown its multilateral efforts to sustain a peaceful relationship in this complex world order. Leaders from around the world have praised his efforts and welcomed Brazil’s return to significant diplomatic discussions and his visits to Wahington during recent times, his affirmative policies with President Biden promoted Brazil’s democratic values. His visit to China for trade relations and peace initiative for Ukraine was seen as a reflection of the world’s problems and his diplomatic efforts in aligning Brazil’s foreign policy with the East and the West. Lula’s global outreach with reach its peak if the former president Trump gets back to power and becomes more popular in Europe and authoritarianism becomes more entrenched in China, India, and Russia. Brazil’s ties with new nations, especially with the age-old history of colonialism and exploitation with a balanced approach to relations with longstanding allies made Brazil a state to be looked on to. This strategy is compatible with Brazil’s foreign policy objectives from the 1960s, which have been to forge new international alliances and expand Brazil’s influence and its advocacy for greater democracy in international relations. A notable example is the initiative against hunger and poverty, now part of the UN’s working program. This initiative can be seen as an extension of the national ‘Zero Hunger Program’ implemented by Lula’s government. These efforts by Brazilian diplomacy have attracted the world and gained traction in large-scale global campaigns. Given its historical trajectory, economic significance, and diplomatic tradition, Brazil is well-positioned to mediate between Western countries, Latin America, the Russian-Asian bloc, and the Global South. Maintaining this direction in today’s polarized global context is challenging. His ideas in promoting the Global South at the G20, advocating for the UNSC reforms along with the multilateral institutions of IMF and World Bank as a representative of the G4 nations have created Brazil to a new multilateralism under his leadership. Unlike earlier administrations, particularly Jair Bolsonaro’s, Lula is reviving Brazil’s commitment to multilateral trade accords. His predecessors, who frequently concentrated on bilateral agreements with the US, did not prioritize regional integration with South America through Mercosur and his initiative in doing it helped to unite the region and strengthen collective bargaining power in international trade which he regained coming back to power in January 2023.
Despite the difficulties presented by the current global order, Brazil is a leader in multilateralism. Before the Cold War, Brazil stood as a regional power with limited global influence whose main focus was on Latin American concerns but after the presidency of Lula da Silva Brazil emerged as a global leader strengthened by economic reforms, active multilateral diplomacy, and environmental leadership, significantly expanding its international standing and influence. If Lula is successful in striking a balance between Brazil’s traditional friends and the recently connected allies, his multilateralist approach will prove to be a successful foreign policy tool. Under his leadership, Brazil has grown significantly over the years as an emerging power in the current world order. Brazil has also reestablished itself as an autonomous global leader under Lula’s direction, especially in the areas of sustainable development and climate change. Brazil’s leadership in environment diplomacy by protecting the Amazon rain forest has positioned this state as a global leader in climate change and environment conservation which garnered international support and multilateral alliances. Lula has prioritized environmental stewardship and South-South cooperation by striking a balance between the fight against deforestation and other programs targeted at poverty reduction and economic growth, as well as sustainable energy initiatives. Lula has worked to strengthen the Southern common market (Mercosur) as a platform for regional cooperation and trade negotiations. His leadership in the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) as a regional bloc helped Brazil to counter the influence of the USA and at the same time promote regional integration with other states. Given Brazil’s non-aligned stance and its commitment to multilateralism, there is potential for the country to play a more significant role as a peace broker in global conflicts.
Lula’s multilateral approach revives Brazil’s traditional view of non-alignment at the same time adapting to the 21st-century global order. He kept Brazil as a bridge between the Global South and the international communities. When the world is moving ahead with rising authoritarianism, autocratic leadership, economic inequality and political instability Brazil’s leadership under Lula Da Silva offers a common vision of multilateralism with upholds inclusivity, equality and cooperation with the global order. If this leadership strives ahead and becomes successful it can set a precedent for all other emerging powers which can reinforce Brazil’s status as an autonomous leader for a just and sustainable future.
*Research Scholar, Department of International Relations, Peace and Public Policy (IRP and PP) at St. Joseph’s University (SJU), Bengaluru, Karnataka.