Lula Puts Amazon Outreach and Belém Upgrades at the Forefront as COP30 Nears, With U.S. Absent From Leaders’ Summit

Overview

• After inaugurating R$450 million in works that doubled Belém Airport’s capacity to roughly 13 million passengers, Lula also opened the requalified Porto de Outeiro, expanded to a 716‑meter pier with R$233 million to receive large cruise ships for lodging during COP30.
• Lula spent the weekend in Santarém and the Tapajós region, meeting Indigenous and ribeirinha communities, pledging solar power access and announcing an Indigenous University to be unveiled on November 17 with a seat in Brasília and regional extensions.
• The White House confirmed the United States will not send high‑level officials to the Leaders’ Summit in Belém, with reporting pointing to a low‑level U.S. presence at the main COP30 meetings.
• Environmental groups and analysts voiced concern that the absence could weaken multilateral momentum, while some welcomed fewer chances for disruptive interventions during negotiations.
• Lula is slated to hold bilaterals on November 5 and preside over the Leaders’ Summit on November 6–7 ahead of COP30 from November 10–21, using the platform to press for forest finance and support for Amazon communities.