Japan says it will work with Brazil to reform the UN

The Prime Minister of Japan, Fumio Kishida, announced this Friday (May 3, 2024) that the G4 countries (group formed by Brazil, Japan, Germany and India) will work together to take “concrete measures” to reform the UN Security Council (United Nations).

Kishida argued that the strengthening and functioning of the UN is “extremely important” on account of “difficult international situation”, in reference to conflicts in the Middle East and Eastern Europe. The statement was made during a joint statement alongside President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT).

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Since the 1st year of his 3rd term, Lula has been critical of the UN Security Council. The PT member demands more representation in the group and the end of the veto power of the so-called P5 (USA, China, France, United Kingdom and Russia).

For Lula, there is a lack of African and Asian representation in the permanent seats of the Security Council. Any decision taken by the group depends on unanimous voting.

Only the countries on the permanent council have veto power, a resource that can prevent the approval of any resolution. In total, 15 countries are part of the council, 10 of which are temporary and changed every 2 years. Brazil assumed a seat in the 2022-2023 biennium.

AMAZON FUND

In his statement at Palácio do Planalto, Kishida said that Japan was the first country in Asia to make contributions to the Amazon Fund, created by the federal government in 2008 to raise and invest resources in actions to prevent, monitor and combat deforestation in the Legal Amazon. .

The Japanese Prime Minister also said that the country will work “more strictly” with Brazil in the agricultural sector to improve degraded lands.

MERCOSUR

Kishida also stated that Japan has given “big importance” strengthening relations with Mercosur (Southern Common Market). According to the Prime Minister, both countries will study ways to expand relations in the areas of trade and investment.

On Tuesday (April 30), during coffee with Japanese journalists, Lula once again defended an agreement between Japan and Mercosur. According to the PT member, the matter still needs to be discussed with the other countries that make up the South American bloc.