Why Does Lula Speak Before Donald Trump at the UN General Assembly in 2025? The 3 Historical Reasons Behind Brazil’s Opening Slot

• 1. The "Consolation Prize" Theory: Brazil’s Trade-Off for Losing a UN Security Council Seat
• 2. The Neutral Mediator: How Brazil Bridged the Cold War Divide
• 3. The Volunteer Spirit: When Nobody Else Wanted to Go First
• The 2025 Speaking Order: More Than Just Protocol
• FAQs: UN Speaking Order Mysteries

As the 2025 UN General Assembly kicks off on September 23, all eyes will be on Brazilian President Lula da Silva as he delivers the first major address—ahead of even the U.S. President. This 76-year-old tradition has roots in Cold War diplomacy, geopolitical compromises, and an unexpected Brazilian volunteer spirit. Here’s the untold story behind the speaking order that’s baffled observers for decades.

1. The "Consolation Prize" Theory: Brazil’s Trade-Off for Losing a UN Security Council Seat

Back in 1945, when the UN’s power structure was being carved up, Brazil was famously snubbed for a permanent Security Council seat despite its regional influence. Winston Churchill and Josef Stalin reportedly blocked the move. As a face-saving gesture, Brazil was allegedly granted the right to open General Assembly debates—a symbolic victory that’s endured through 11 temporary Security Council terms (most recently in 2022-2023). "It’s like getting front-row tickets to compensate for not being backstage," quipped a BTCC market analyst familiar with geopolitical bargaining tactics.

2. The Neutral Mediator: How Brazil Bridged the Cold War Divide

During the tense 1950s, Brazil positioned itself as a neutral party between U.S. and Soviet blocs. UN archives suggest this made them the perfect "icebreaker"—a non-aligned voice to set the tone before superpower clashes. Former protocol chief Desmond Parker confirmed to NPR: "Having Brazil first was like oiling the gears before the machinery of diplomacy started grinding."

3. The Volunteer Spirit: When Nobody Else Wanted to Go First

The most widely accepted explanation comes straight from UN oral histories. In 1949-1951, no world leader wanted the unenviable task of speaking first. Brazil stepped up—three years running—until the tradition was formalized in 1955. The only exceptions? 1983-1984 when Ronald Reagan’s team reportedly "muscled in" (as one Brazilian diplomat put it) to showcase America’s renewed Cold War stance.

The 2025 Speaking Order: More Than Just Protocol

This year’s lineup follows the established hierarchy:

• UN Secretary-General António Guterres
• Assembly President (Germany’s Annalena Baerbock)
• Brazil’s Lula da Silva (10:00 EST)
• U.S. President Donald Trump (time TBD)

Behind the scenes, this order reflects what TradingView geopolitical analysts call "diplomatic feng shui"—balancing power, history, and optics. As one UN staffer joked: "We let Brazil take the stage early so everyone else has time to finish their coffee before the fireworks start."

FAQs: UN Speaking Order Mysteries

Why doesn’t the host country (USA) speak first?

The tradition maintains symbolic equality—giving the podium first to a non-superpower sets a collaborative tone.

Has any country ever challenged Brazil’s position?

Only the Reagan incident in the 1980s. Most nations respect the custom, though some grumble privately about "time zone advantages" for Western Hemisphere speakers.

Could this change in future assemblies?

Possible but unlikely. As CoinMarketCap’s governance expert notes: "Traditions at the UN have half-lives longer than plutonium."