Background on Key Participants
The United States has been left out of a meeting focused on the global state of democracy, organized by Brazil, Chile, and Spain during the United Nations General Assembly. This decision comes after a significant deterioration in global conditions over the past year, according to sources involved in planning the event.
Relevance of Key Participants
Brazil: Under the current administration, Brazil has been actively pursuing justice against former President Jair Bolsonaro, who was recently convicted for planning a coup. This stance has led to tensions with former U.S. President Donald Trump.
Chile: As a stable democracy in Latin America, Chile’s participation highlights the regional focus of this meeting.
Spain: Spain’s involvement underscores Europe’s commitment to supporting global democratic values.
Reasons for US Exclusion
The decision to exclude the United States stems from concerns over those who question democratic principles and institutions, as well as retaliation against Brazil by former President Trump.
Trump imposed heavy tariffs on Brazilian imports and sanctioned Judge Alexandre de Moraes of the Federal Supreme Court, who oversees Bolsonaro’s case. In response to what he called a “witch hunt” against Bolsonaro, Trump targeted Viviane Barci de Moraes (the judge’s wife), her law firm, and other Brazilian judicial members along with the Attorney General Jorge Messias.
Meeting Details
Title: “In Defense of Democracy and Against Extremism”
Date: The meeting will take place on Wednesday during the United Nations General Assembly period.
Confirmed Attendees: As of Monday, 12 heads of state have confirmed their attendance, mostly from Latin America. Colombia and Uruguay are also collaborating on the organization of this year’s event.
