Brazil’s president and the U.S. senator discussed global issues, UN reform, AI governance and the political situation in the United States.
Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva met with U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders in New York on Monday, with talks covering multilateralism, peace, democracy, artificial intelligence governance and the political situation in the United States.
The two also agreed on the need to reform the United Nations Security Council, Lula said after the meeting.
Sanders shared his views on the U.S. economic and political situation and the upcoming midterm elections, scheduled for Nov. 3. He predicted that Democrats would win the elections, in which all 435 seats in the House of Representatives and one-third of the 100 seats in the Senate will be contested.
Lula said the meeting also addressed rising military spending, widening inequality and precarious employment in different parts of the world. The two expressed concern about extremism and called for urgent multilateral governance of artificial intelligence, while also advocating greater participation by young people and women in politics at all levels.
Na tarde desta segunda-feira (21), tive uma reunião com o senador Bernie Sanders, em Nova York, no contexto da semana de Alto Nível das Nações Unidas.
Dialogamos sobre temas globais, como a defesa do multilateralismo, da paz e da democracia. Repudiamos, nesse contexto, o… pic.twitter.com/7lqCs77yGZ
— Lula (@LulaOficial) September 22, 2026
Text Reads: This Monday afternoon (21), I had a meeting with Senator Bernie Sanders in New York, in the context of the United Nations High-Level Week. We discussed global issues, such as the defense of multilateralism, peace, and democracy. In this context, we condemned the increase in military spending, the deepening of inequalities, and the precariousness of workers’ situations in various parts of the world. We expressed concern about extremism and advocated for the urgent need for multilateral governance of artificial intelligence. We also championed greater participation by young people and women in politics at all levels. Senator Sanders shared his perspective on the U.S. midterm elections, as well as the country’s political and economic situation. I commented to him on the electoral context in Brazil and presented some of the public inclusion policies implemented during the current term, especially in the area of health. Senator Sanders expressed interest in learning about the Brazilian experience with the Unified Health System.
Sanders asked Lula about Brazil’s experience with its Unified Health System, known as SUS.
The Brazilian president also discussed concerns over possible interference in Brazil’s upcoming elections. According to local media reports, Sanders asked whether Lula feared such interference. Lula said there were currently no indications of it but did not rule out the possibility.
Lula said Brazil remained alert to activity on social media following recent revelations involving far-right political operator Fernando Cerimedo and the use of bot farms to defame left-wing leaders and interfere in elections across Latin America.
He also expressed particular concern about the stance of U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, referring to his close ties with the Bolsonaro family.
The meeting with Sanders, a prominent figure in U.S. progressive politics, concluded Lula’s bilateral engagements in New York on Monday. Earlier, he had met with Uruguayan President Yamandú Orsi and New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani.
Lula is in New York to attend the high-level week of the 81st session of the UN General Assembly. His agenda includes a meeting with UN Secretary-General António Guterres and the opening address of the General Debate, where he is expected to address peace, international cooperation, UN reform, and efforts to combat poverty and hunger.
Before the meeting with Sanders, Lula said on his digital platforms that he was attending the international gathering as the representative of a sovereign country that demands respect and protects its population. He is due to return to Brazil to continue his activities ahead of the October elections.
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