Brazil Excludes the United States from Democracy Forum in New York

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  Newsroom

• September 20, 2025

• Newsroom

Brazil Excludes the United States from Democracy Forum in New York

The Government of Brazil has announced that the United States will not participate in the second edition of the event “In Defense of Democracy and Against Extremism”, scheduled to take place on September 24 in New York, during the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).

The conference, organized by Brazil in partnership with Chile, Spain, Colombia, and Uruguay, will bring together leaders and representatives from approximately 30 countries. The goal is to foster debates on defending democracy, combating extremism, disinformation, hate speech, and social inequality.

According to sources within President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva’s administration, the decision to exclude the United States stems from divergences regarding the country’s role in matters of democracy and human rights, particularly during the administration of President Donald Trump. Last year, Washington was invited and sent a representative from the U.S. State Department to the first edition of the forum.

President Lula is set to depart for New York on Sunday, September 21, where he will deliver the opening address at the UN General Assembly on Tuesday, September 23.

The “In Defense of Democracy and Against Extremism” event, taking place on Wednesday morning, September 24, aims to advance international cooperation in defense of democratic institutions and against disinformation, hate speech, and social inequality.

For analysts, the exclusion of one of the world’s largest powers is a significant diplomatic signal that may impact bilateral relations between Brasília and Washington, at a time when Brazil seeks to strengthen its image as a global leader in the defense of democracy.