Bolsonaro in New York for UN General Assembly

President Jair Bolsonaro set off this morning (Sep 23) for New York, where he is to speak at the 74th United Nations (UN) General Assembly.

The president’s attendance was subject to doubt after he underwent another surgery for address the injuries stemming from a knife attack he suffered last year. The medical team, however, led by surgeon Antonio Macedo, allowed the president to travel after exams were conducted on Friday (20).

Bolsonaro made it clear that the focus of his address will be the defense of the government’s efforts in the Amazon after the negative ripples of the wildfires in the region in the last weeks.

He is expected to argue, among other things, that the burns are within the average of the last 15 years, and to advocate Brazil’s sovereignty, as well as that of other Amazon countries, over the territory.

Bolsonaro’s speech is also said to include government’s economic measures, public security, and the fight against corruption. In his only high-level meeting, the president is set to talk to UN Secretary-General Antonio Gutérrez.

The president’s engagements also include a dinner with US President Donald Trump tonight (23), but no details have been disclosed as to who is to attend.

His return is scheduled to take place Tuesday (24), the same day of his UN speech, which is to open the assembly—a prerogative of Brazilian heads of state.