Lula da Silva on G7

Lula da Silva's position regarding the G7 is characterized by active engagement as an invited guest, particularly on topics like energy security and strategic minerals, while simultaneously using the platform to voice significant disagreements with the group's consensus positions on international conflicts. The Brazilian president accepts invitations to expanded sessions, such as the one in Canada in June 2025, to champion Brazil's leadership in the energy transition, highlighting its extensive clean energy matrix and vast mineral reserves. He advocates for developing countries to participate in all stages of global value chains, ensuring mutual benefits rather than allowing resource exploitation based on geopolitical disputes.

Conversely, the president has directly contradicted the G7's stated positions on geopolitical flashpoints. He condemned the group’s support for Israel, labeling the attacks on Gaza as an “indiscriminate killing” and criticizing the use of hunger as a weapon of war. Furthermore, he asserted that dialogue, not military means, is the only path for the Ukraine conflict and called for the United Nations to restore its leadership role, suggesting the G7 platform should be used to reinforce multilateral institutions rather than bypass them. His participation signals a desire to insert the concerns of the Global South into the dominant Western-led forum.