Why does Brazil always speak first in the general debate?

In the early years of the United Nations, after its founding in 1945, many countries were reluctant to take the first speaking slot. Brazil stepped forward. As former UN protocol chief Desmond Parker explained in a 2010 interview with NPR: "In very early times, when no one wanted to speak first, Brazil always offered to speak first. And so they have earned the right to speak first at the General Assembly."

The tradition solidified at the 10th session in 1955 and has held with only rare interruptions. There is no formal UN rule requiring Brazil to open the general debate. The position developed through diplomatic practice and has continued over the decades.

Why the US goes second

The United States then traditionally follows as the second member state to speak because it hosts the UN headquarters in New York. After those two, several factors are considered when determining the order of speakers, including which representative a country is sending, the date on which it requested to speak, and geographical balance between speeches. Heads of state generally take precedence, followed by heads of government and other government representatives, including foreign ministers.

What the slot is actually worth

Going first is genuinely valuable, not ceremonial. Having the floor first sets the tone for the assembly. Brazil can highlight issues it finds vital. That is exactly what Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva did at UNGA 81, using the opening position to frame the week's conversation around a paralyzed Security Council, Gaza, the Strait of Hormuz and Brazilian sovereignty before anyone else had spoken.

In 1983 and 1984, following the US intervention in Grenada, the United States spoke first. Those are among the very few moments the tradition has broken, which tells you how durable it is. Seven decades of showing up, and the slot is yours.