Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva on Tuesday called for a coordinated international response to organised crime that respects national sovereignty, while urging world leaders to tackle widening inequality and reform global development mechanisms during an expanded G7 meeting in Évian, France.

Speaking at the session titled “Establishing New Partnerships and Rebuilding International Solidarity”, Lula said efforts to combat transnational crimes should form part of a broader development agenda aimed at addressing poverty, inequality and sustainable growth.

Lula Links Organised Crime to Development Challenges

The Brazilian President said criminal activities such as drug trafficking, money laundering and arms smuggling divert resources that could otherwise be invested in education, healthcare and infrastructure.

Welcoming the G7 Leaders’ Declaration on Combating Drug Trafficking, Lula argued that narcotics-related crimes cannot be tackled separately from other forms of organised crime.

He stressed the importance of coordinated international efforts and highlighted the role of institutions such as INTERPOL in tracing illicit financial flows and dismantling criminal networks.

Warning Against Protectionism and Unilateralism

Lula used the forum to criticise growing protectionism and unilateral approaches, warning that such policies are inadequate to address increasingly complex global challenges.

He argued that economic disparities between developed and developing countries continue to widen and said the world is drifting away from the targets set under the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

According to the Brazilian leader, international solidarity and stronger partnerships are essential to reversing these trends.

Calls for Greater Financing for Sustainable Development

Lula said achieving the Sustainable Development Goals would require an estimated USD 4 trillion annually and called for climate finance to be increased to at least USD 1.3 trillion.

He also expressed concern over declining international aid and pointed to reductions in funding for organisations such as the World Food Programme, the World Health Organization and UNICEF.

The President said these cuts risk undermining efforts to combat hunger, disease and poverty across vulnerable regions.

Brazil Highlights Global Initiatives

Highlighting Brazil’s contributions, Lula referred to initiatives such as the Tropical Forests Forever Fund and the Global Alliance Against Hunger.

He said these efforts reflect Brazil’s commitment to sustainable development and international cooperation.

The Brazilian leader also advocated greater access to artificial intelligence and advanced technologies for developing nations, arguing that innovation should not remain concentrated among a few countries.

Push for Technology Transfer and Industrialisation

Lula argued that countries rich in critical minerals should benefit from industrialisation and technology transfer instead of remaining suppliers of raw materials.

He called for greater value addition and the development of domestic industries to ensure that resource-rich nations derive long-term economic benefits from their natural wealth.

According to Lula, fairer economic arrangements are necessary to promote inclusive growth and reduce dependence on developed economies.

G7 Summit Focuses on Rebuilding Global Solidarity

Lula’s remarks came during an outreach session aimed at strengthening international cooperation and creating new partnerships to address shared challenges.

The meeting brought together G7 members and partner countries to discuss issues ranging from economic development and climate change to global security and sustainable growth.

The Brazilian President’s intervention underscored growing calls from developing nations for reforms to the global financial architecture and a more equitable distribution of resources and technology.

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