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Swati Sood
20 July 2025 |
The following note was earlier published in The World This Week #319 & 320 Vol 7, No 28 & 29, 20 July 2025
Indian PM Modi's visit to Brazil:
Deepening bilateral partnership
Swati Sood
What happened?
On 6 July, Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Brazil as part of his five-nation tour. PM Modi was received by Brazil’s President Lula da Silva and was accorded a ceremonial welcome with military honours. He also participated in the 17th BRICS Summit in Rio de Janeiro from 6 to 7 July.
On 6 July, the Rio de Janeiro Declaration was adopted by member countries at the BRICS summit.
On 8 July, PM Modi held meetings with Brazil’s President Lula da Silva at Alvorada Palace in Brasilia. In over 57 years, this was the first bilateral state visit of an Indian Prime Minister to Brazil. Both leaders discussed the entire spectrum of the relations between the countries. Additionally, both leaders affirmed to expand the India-MERCOSUR Preferential Trade Agreement and set a target to increase bilateral trade to USD 20 billion over the next five years.
On the same day, India and Brazil signed six MoUs and agreements including MoU on Cooperation for the sharing of Successful Large-scale Digital solutions for Digital Transformation, Agreement on Cooperation in Combating International Terrorism and Transnational Organized Crime, MoU on Cooperation in Renewable Energy, MoU on Agricultural Research between EMBRAPA and the Indian Council of Agricultural Research, Agreement on the Exchange and Mutual Protection of Classified Information, and MoU on Cooperation in the field of Intellectual Property between DPIIT of India and Secretariat of Competitiveness and Regulatory Policy, MDIC of Brazil.
Also on the same day, a Joint Statement also was adopted, according to which India and Brazil have acknowledged the urgency of collaborating under five priority pillars: defense and security; food and nutritional security; energy transition and climate change; digital transformation and emerging technologies; and industrial partnerships in strategic areas such as pharmaceutical industry; defence equipment; mining & minerals; and oil & gas sector, including research, exploration, extraction, refining, and distribution. Brazil’s highest national honour was conferred upon PM Modi, the Grand Collar of the National Order of the Southern Cross.
What is the background?
First, a brief note on historical and cultural relations between India and Brazil. India and Brazil’s historical relations can be traced to the Portuguese imperialist empire. As outposts of the Portuguese empire, Brazil and Goa had linkages between the 16th and 18th centuries. These are reflected in the folkways and local traditions in the two countries
Second, India-Brazil partnership at multilateral forums. Diplomatic relations between the countries were established in 1948. India and Brazil have worked jointly in various multilateral bodies and forums such as the BRICS, United Nations, G20, World Trade Organisation, International Solar Alliance, Global Biofuel Alliance, and Coalition for Disaster Resilience Infrastructure. Further, India and Brazil have actively expressed shared ambitions for reforming and expanding the current UN Security Council.
Third, economic ties between India and Brazil. India and Brazil enjoy strong trade relations.
In FY 2024-25, bilateral trade reached USD 12.2 billion. Major Indian exports to Brazil include processed petroleum products, agrochemicals, and engineering products. Major Brazilian exports to India include gold and crude oil.
What does this mean?
First, deepening bilateral partnership under priority areas. Partnership under the five priority pillars demonstrates that both countries are determined to enhance industrial collaboration, which is pertinent to foster institutional cooperation that is unaffected by evolving partisan considerations.
Second, BRICS is a binding factor. India and Brazil seek to achieve equitable global governance for a multipolar world order mainly through BRICS. India’s status as a rising, strategically autonomous power can help achieve this objective when it assumes the presidency of the grouping next year. Brazil’s prevalence in South America as a major power can also serve as a pathway for India to expand its footprint in the region.
About the Author
Swati Sood is an undergraduate student in Political Science at the University of Delhi.
