In the early years of the UN General Assembly, when countries were reluctant to speak first, Brazil repeatedly volunteered. What began almost by chance eventually became a tradition and, since 1955, Brazil has consistently opened the General Debate, traditionally followed by the United States as the host country. 

This week, that decades-old protocol created an interesting sequence of speeches, with Lula da Silva and Trump presenting two very different visions of the Americas. 

The Brazilian president used the stage to defend sovereignty and strategic autonomy, warning against foreign interference and arguing that cooperation, rather than intervention, should guide the fight against organized crime. 

Trump, for his part, advocated for a stronger U.S. role in the Western Hemisphere, bringing Venezuela, Cuba, Mexico, and drug cartels directly into the conversation. 

This matters because it brings back one of Latin America's oldest political debates: its relationship with the United States. 

The region is far from speaking with one voice. On one side, there is a vision focused on closer alignment with Washington and a stronger U.S. role in hemispheric security, while on the other, there is a push for greater sovereignty and strategic autonomy. 

Latam at a Glance 

• 20 of 51 of UN founding members in 1945 were from Latin America. 

• 40% LATAM's share of the UN's original founding members. 

• 33 Latin American & Caribbean countries represented at the UN today. 

• 17% Their combined share of votes in the 193 member General Assembly. 

• 1955 Since then, Brazil has consistently opened the UN General Debate. 

• 81st The UN General Assembly session taking place this week in New York, with the normal chaos that it bring to the city. 

The membership of LATAM and Caribbean countries in the UN has fostered international engagement, from the most economically powerful countries to the least populous. So, if you are looking to expand your multinational group across Latin America, contact our local experts.

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