"The exclusion of Latin America and Africa from permanent seats on the Security Council is an unacceptable echo of the domination practices of the colonial past," Lula told the UN General Assembly.
He called for a "comprehensive review" of the UN Charter, both to reform the institutions and to address priorities including combating climate change.
"I am under no illusions about the complexity of such a reform, which would counter entrenched interests that maintain the status quo," he added.
The Security Council's five permanent veto-wielding members are a legacy of the victors in World War II - Britain, China, France, Russia and the United States.
In his address to the United Nations General Assembly, President Joe Biden said the United States supports the expansion of the Security Council, the world body's most powerful institution.
"We must build a stronger, more effective and more inclusive United Nations. The United Nations must adapt and bring new voices and new perspectives," Biden said.
U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Linda Thomas-Greenfield said last week that the U.S. supports two permanent seats for Africa, as well as a new elective seat for small island states that are particularly vulnerable to climate change.
Some U.N. observers say Biden's rhetorical support for reform is a no-risk strategy, as the U.S. expects rivals Russia and China to block any move that would weaken its power.
For its part, Washington has rejected the idea of granting veto power to new members.
For years, Brazil has been part of a joint effort with Germany, India and Japan to get the four powers permanent seats on the Security Council.
The foreign ministers of the four countries met on September 23 and reaffirmed their support for the joint bid. | BGNES
