Security & Strategic Review - January 2026

The United Nations climate change conference (COP30) hosted in the Brazilian city of Belém from 10-22 November was supposed to be the top highlight of Brazil’s foreign policy calendar in 2025 and the main stage on which President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva could promote his ambitions to position Brazil as a leading country on multilateral climate action. However, his lofty ambitions, including calls for a clear plan to phase out fossil fuels, fell short, with government delegations reaching a mild agreement that avoided addressing the controversial topic.