By Micah Jonah | January 24, 2026
Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has accused United States President, Donald Trump of attempting to create what he described as a new United Nations, following the launch of Trump’s global initiative known as the Board of Peace in Switzerland.
Lula made the remarks during a public address in Rio Grande do Sul, where he criticised what he described as unilateral control of global affairs and warned that international cooperation was under serious threat. He said the focus should be on reforming existing global institutions rather than creating new structures controlled by a single country.
The Brazilian leader also expressed concern over what he described as governance through social media statements, noting that global attention now shifts daily based on comments made online by the US President, creating uncertainty in international relations.
Lula’s comments came shortly after a telephone conversation with Chinese President Xi Jinping, during which both leaders discussed the importance of protecting the central role of the United Nations in global peace and diplomacy.
The United States has recently withdrawn from several United Nations bodies while promoting the newly launched Board of Peace, which was unveiled at the World Economic Forum meeting in Davos, Switzerland. The initiative has been presented as a platform for resolving global conflicts and coordinating reconstruction efforts in crisis regions.
Among the early members of the Board of Peace is Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, whose inclusion has generated international controversy following ongoing investigations by international legal bodies over the conflict in Gaza and reported casualties among humanitarian workers.
Initial statements from the United States indicated that the board would focus on post conflict rebuilding in Gaza, but the official charter of the organisation does not make direct reference to the territory, raising questions about the broader objectives of the initiative.
Meanwhile, the United Nations continues to face funding challenges as several major donor countries shift budget priorities towards defence, domestic spending. The global body operates on an annual budget running into billions of dollars, with the United States traditionally contributing a significant share, though recent shortfalls have been recorded.
In contrast, the Board of Peace charter reportedly requires long term member states to commit substantial financial contributions, a move that has also drawn criticism from developing nations already struggling with economic pressures.
Lula warned that weakening global institutions could return the world to a system where power, rather than law, determines outcomes in international disputes, calling for renewed commitment to collective diplomacy and international agreements.
