“We are witnessing a critical moment in global geopolitics, marked by major paradoxes: while astronauts are flying to the moon, women and children are being killed indiscriminately in the bombings in the Middle East,” Lula told the audience at the opening ceremony of the Hannover Messe trade fair in northern Germany on Sunday evening.

Describing the war against Iran as “madness,” Lula said it was unacceptable in the 21st century that hunger, illiteracy and a lack of access to electricity remained unresolved issues for billions of people, while at the same time US$2.7 trillion were being spent on wars.

The 80-year-old leader called for modern technologies to be used not for wars, but “for a more sustainable and secure world.”

But Lula did not only take aim at the US, but all five permanent members of the UN Security Council – which also includes Russia, China, France and the UK.

He said the body had been created to secure peace and prevent a repeat of World War II.

Instead, the world today is witnessing more conflicts than at any time since 1945, Lula said, accusing those in power of standing idly by.