NewKerala.com

Lula Tells Trump: UNSC Needs Expansion, Peace Council for Gaza Only

Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and US President Donald Trump held a 50-minute phone call discussing bilateral and global issues. Lula argued that UN Security Council reform must include expanding its permanent membership to reflect modern global realities. He also stated that a proposed US Peace Council should be limited to the Gaza issue and include a seat for Palestine. The leaders agreed on enhanced cooperation against organized crime and discussed the situation in Venezuela, with Lula scheduled to visit Washington after trips to India and South Korea.

Key Points: Lula-Trump Call: UN Reform, Gaza Peace Council Discussed

  • UN Security Council expansion urged
  • Peace Council should be Gaza-specific
  • Bilateral tariffs largely lifted
  • Cooperation on crime, Venezuela discussed
  • Lula to visit Washington in February
2 min read

UNSC expansion needed, Peace Council should be limited to Gaza issue, Lula tells Trump

Brazilian President Lula tells US President Trump the UN Security Council must expand and a proposed Peace Council should focus solely on the Gaza issue.

"reform must include expanding the permanent membership of the UN Security Council - Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva"

Washington, Jan 27

Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva told US President Donald Trump that expanding the permanent membership of the United Nations Security Council is necessary and that the proposed Peace Council should be limited to the Gaza issue, according to a readout of their phone call issued by the office of the Brazilian President.

The two leaders also agreed that Lula would visit Washington after completing his trips to India and South Korea in February. A date for the visit will be set soon, the readout said.

The phone conversation took place on Monday at 11:00 a.m. and lasted about 50 minutes. The leaders discussed the bilateral relationship and key global issues.

Lula and Trump exchanged information on economic indicators from their countries. The indicators point to good prospects for both economies. Trump said the economic growth of the United States and Brazil is positive for the region as a whole.

Both Presidents praised the improvement in relations over the past few months. They said the engagement had led to the lifting of a significant portion of the tariffs imposed on Brazilian products.

During the call, Lula reiterated a proposal submitted to the US State Department in December to strengthen cooperation in the fight against organised crime. He expressed interest in closer cooperation to curb money laundering and arms trafficking.

Lula also stressed the importance of freezing the assets of criminal groups. He called for expanded data exchanges on financial transactions. The proposal was well received by Trump, according to the readout.

International security and multilateral issues were a significant focus of the discussion. Referring to the invitation extended to Brazil to participate in the Peace Council proposed by the United States, Lula said the body should be limited to the Gaza issue, according to the readout.

He also proposed that the Peace Council include a seat for Palestine. In the same context, Lula reiterated the importance of comprehensive reform of the United Nations.

The Brazilian President said reform must include expanding the permanent membership of the UN Security Council. He said the changes are necessary to better reflect current global realities.

The two leaders also exchanged views on the situation in Venezuela. Lula stressed the importance of preserving peace and stability in the region and working for the well-being of the Venezuelan people.

- IANS

Share this article:

Reader Comments

P
Priya S
Interesting that Lula is visiting India soon. Hope our PM uses this opportunity to build a stronger consensus for UNSC reform with Brazil. Our partnership can be a powerful voice for the Global South.
R
Rahul R
Limiting the Peace Council to Gaza is a smart move. Otherwise, it becomes another tool for powerful nations to interfere anywhere. Focused efforts might actually help. But including a Palestinian seat is crucial for any real dialogue.
S
Sarah B
While I agree with the need for reform, the process is painfully slow. There's a lot of talk but will the existing P5 ever give up their veto power? Doubt it. Still, glad leaders like Lula are keeping the issue alive.
V
Vikram M
Good to see cooperation on fighting organized crime and money laundering. This affects us all. Hope India and Brazil can also share best practices in this area. The economic growth part is positive news for global trade too.
K
Karthik V
Respectfully, I think focusing only on expanding permanent members isn't enough. The veto power is the real problem. What good is a new seat if it comes without the ability to actually shape decisions? The reform needs to be deeper.

We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.

Leave a Comment

Minimum 50 characters 0/50