President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva defended, this Tuesday (16), during a G7 meeting, that the fight against drug trafficking needs to be done in a comprehensive manner, which includes combating associated crimes, such as money laundering and arms trafficking. This effort, according to Lula, needs to be made based on respect for the sovereignty of States. Related news: Lula at the G7 generates expectations for a US tariff and a veto on meat by the EU. Lula has meetings with the presidents of France and Switzerland. Celso Amorim: AI under the control of a few companies worsens inequalities. In a speech during the meeting of the seven largest economies on the planet, an event taking place in the French city of Évian, he stated that issues such as combating transnational crimes need to be addressed in a way associated with a development agenda. "Organized crime terrorizes communities and diverts public resources that should be directed to the construction of schools, hospitals and roads. This effort must take into account respect for the sovereignty of States", he said. “And combating drug trafficking cannot be dissociated from other illicit activities such as money laundering and arms trafficking,” he added when defending dialogue and cooperation through Interpol to locate assets and individuals linked to such criminal activities. The president's speech reiterates concerns about national sovereignty, after the United States classified the Red Command (CV) and the First Capital Command (PCC) as narco-terrorists – which would allow, according to US legislation, possible interference in Brazil. >> Follow the Agência Brasil channel on WhatsApp Critical minerals and AI Lula once again defended that countries that hold critical minerals benefit economically from associated processes that go beyond the simple extraction of this material. “They must [also] participate in the highest value-added stages of the chain, through industrialization, technology transfer and capacity building, according to their national needs,” he said while warning that the digital revolution and artificial intelligence cannot increase inequalities. Another challenge cited by the president is to establish partnerships that enable the development and access to cutting-edge technologies, such as artificial intelligence, to a greater number of countries. “The energy and digital transitions cannot reproduce historical patterns that concentrate economic benefits in a few actors”, he argued.