Deepening India-Brazil Cooperation | 23 Feb 2026

Source: HT

Why in News?

The President of Brazil paid a State Visit to India resulting in significant agreements across digital partnership, defense, energy transition, and global governance reform. 

• The Indian Prime Minister invited the Brazilian President to the 18th BRICS Summit to be held in India in 2026, guided by the theme "Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability".

What are the Key Outcomes of the Brazilian President’s State Visit to India?

• Reaffirmation of the India–Brazil Strategic Partnership: Both countries reaffirmed the Brazil-India Strategic Partnership (2006) and reiterated commitment to the five priority pillars from the Brasilia Joint Statement 2025: 
  • Defense and security,
  • Food and nutritional security, 
  • Energy transition and climate change, 
  • Digital transformation and emerging technologies and
  • Industrial partnerships in strategic areas.
• Digital & AI Partnership:
  • Digital Partnership for the Future: In the context of the India-Brazil Digital Partnership for the Future, both leaders welcomed the launch of the Open Planetary Intelligence Network (OPIN).
    • They agreed to leverage Digital Public Infrastructures (DPIs) to boost sustainable development and climate action in developing nations.
  • AI Cooperation: Both underlined the importance of multilateral AI initiatives including UNGA Resolutions, Digital Global Compact, UNESCO Recommendation on AI Ethics, and BRICS Leaders' Declaration on Global Governance of Artificial Intelligence.
• Trade, Investment & Economic Cooperation: Bilateral trade surged by 25.5% in 2025, with a new target set at USD 30 billion by 2030, alongside a commitment to address non-tariff barriers and resolve anti-dumping concerns. 
  • To strengthen the India–MERCOSUR Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA), both sides agreed to expand its scope and signed an MoU on the Mutual Recognition of Electronic Certificates of Origin.
• Critical Minerals Cooperation: Leaders welcomed the signing of the MoU on cooperation in rare earth elements and critical minerals and the MoU in the Field of Mining for the Steel Supply Chain.
• Cyber Cooperation: They welcomed the first India-Brazil Cyber Dialogue in Brasilia (November 2025) to discuss cyber governance, data protection, and fight against cybercrime.
• Climate Change and Energy Transition: India’s PM commended Brazil for hosting COP30 in Belem (November 2025) and for launching the Tropical Forests Forever Facility (TFFF). 
  • Leaders reiterated commitment to the "Belém 4x Pledge on Sustainable Fuels" to expand sustainable fuels use fourfold by 2035.
• Science, Technology & Intellectual Property: Both agreed to hold the 3rd Joint Commission on Scientific & Technological Cooperation in India (August 2026) and enhanced Intellectual Property (IP) cooperation through Brazil's access to India's Traditional Knowledge Digital Library and closer ties between DPIIT and Brazil's Ministry of Development.

What are the Key Pillars of India-Brazil Cooperation?

Diplomatic relations between India and Brazil were established in 1948. India opened the Embassy in Rio de Janeiro, the erstwhile capital, later moving to Brasilia in 1971. India has a Consulate General in São Paulo while Brazil has one in Mumbai.

• Trade and Investment: Brazil is India's largest trading partner in the Latin America and Caribbean region.
  • Bilateral trade in 2025 grew by over 25% reaching USD 15.21 billion (Indian exports - USD 8.35 billion, imports from Brazil - USD 6.85 billion). 
  • Major Indian exports include processed petroleum products, agro-chemicals, pharmaceuticals, engineering products. Brazilian exports include crude oil, soybean oil, gold, raw sugar, cotton, iron ore.
  • Total Indian investment in Brazil is estimated at more than USD 15 billion. 
• Defence Cooperation: A defence cooperation agreement (2003) was ratified in 2006, creating the Joint Defence Committee (JDC). 
  • The 2+2 Political-Military dialogue was inaugurated in New Delhi (March 2024).
  • A trilateral MoU was recently signed involving Mazagon Dock Ltd and the navies of India and Brazil for the maintenance of Scorpene-class submarines and other military vessels.
• Energy Transition and Biofuels: As "renewable energy super-powers," both nations are leading the global decarbonization agenda by harmonizing biofuel standards and creating a Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) corridor. 
  • This cooperation is no longer just bilateral but global, utilizing the Global Biofuel Alliance (GBA) to set international sustainability benchmarks.
  • The National Biofuel Policy (India) and Renova Bio Program (Brazil) share common objectives of enhancing biofuel blending.
• Multilateral Governance & G4 Reform: India and Brazil are increasingly acting as a unified "diplomatic bloc" to demand the democratization of global institutions like the UN Security Council and the WTO. Their cooperation is rooted in the belief that the current global architecture does not reflect the realities of the 21st century.
  • Through the G4 group, both nations are coordinating a "text-based negotiation" strategy to secure permanent seats on an expanded UN Security Council.

What Obstacles Limit Effective India–Brazil Cooperation?

• Geographic and Logistical Distance: The vast 14,000+ km distance and lack of direct connectivity result in high transportation costs and long lead times, making trade less competitive compared to trade with neighbours or regions like Africa and Southeast Asia.
• Trade Composition and Asymmetry: Bilateral trade is characterized by a primary commodity composition, with India exporting pharmaceuticals and petroleum products while importing sugar, soybean oil, and gold from Brazil, making the relationship susceptible to global price fluctuations and lacking intra-industry depth.
• The "China Factor": Brazil’s deep economic cooperation with China creates a strategic imbalance for India.
  • China is Brazil’s largest trading partner. This dominance makes it harder for Indian companies to compete in the Brazilian market.
  • While India has been cautious about Chinese influence in the Global South, Brazil has at times been more receptive to Chinese-led initiatives, leading to occasional differences in the "rhythm" of cooperation within the BRICS framework.
• Nascent Defence Cooperation: Defence cooperation remains nascent, with limited joint exercises, defence technology transfers, or major procurement deals compared to India's relationships with traditional partners like Russia, France, or even the US. 

What Measures are Needed to Further Strengthen India-Brazil Relations?

• Diversify and Deepen the Trade Basket: Efforts should focus on facilitating market access for high-value manufactured goods, IT services, and engineering products.
  • Encouraging joint ventures in sectors like biofuels, pharmaceuticals, and aerospace (e.g., Embraer) can create intra-industry trade that is more resilient to price shocks.
• Establish Direct Maritime and Air Connectivity: India and Brazil should establish a maritime corridor to reduce shipping costs and launch direct flights between Delhi/Mumbai and Sao Paulo, enhancing trade, tourism, and business connectivity.
• Cooperation in Emerging Technologies: Joint initiatives in artificial intelligence, semiconductors, digital public infrastructure, and critical minerals can foster innovation and supply chain resilience.
• Institutionalize Defence Industrial Cooperation: India and Brazil should move beyond symbolic exercises by signing a Defence Technology Cooperation Agreement for co-developing MALE drones, jointly producing aircraft parts, and expanding joint military exercises, building on recent progress like the Scorpene submarine maintenance MoU.
• Boost Cultural and Academic Exchanges: To build societal resilience in the relationship, expand scholarship programs and promote Portuguese (Brazil) and Hindi language training will create a generation of experts who understand the other's market and culture. 
• Coordinate Efforts in Multilateral Forums: Coordinated efforts in multilateral forums like BRICS, G20, G-4, International Solar Alliance, Global Biofuel Alliance, Coalition for Disaster Resilience Infrastructure, and the United Nations for global governance reforms would amplify their influence as Global South leaders.

Conclusion

The India-Brazil Strategic Partnership, bolstered by the President of Brazil 2026 State Visit, demonstrates growing convergence across digital transformation, energy transition, and defence cooperation. Overcoming challenges like geographical distance, trade asymmetry, and NSG divergence through enhanced connectivity, diversified trade, and coordinated multilateral action will be crucial for both nations to emerge as true Global South leaders.