Overview
- President Catherine Connolly addressed the fourth Defence of Democracy meeting in Barcelona after invitations from Spain’s Pedro Sánchez and Brazil’s Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.
- She said the world now rewards “might is right,” arguing that failures to punish violations have hollowed out international law and weakened the United Nations.
- Connolly cast Ireland as a neutral, post‑colonial voice, citing UN membership since 1955, peacekeeping since 1958, and a bid for a UN Human Rights Council seat for 2027–2029.
- Leaders in attendance included Lula and Mexico’s Claudia Sheinbaum, with organizers also listing Colombia’s Gustavo Petro, European Council president António Costa and South Africa’s Cyril Ramaphosa.
- Connolly’s Barcelona schedule includes bilateral meetings with fellow participants and a reception hosted by Irish ambassador Brian Glynn, as the Spain‑ and Brazil‑led forum—launched in 2024—focuses on extremism, polarisation and disinformation rather than binding decisions.