The two leaders have maintained an open line of communication, with Lula calling Modi last month to discuss the Venezuelan situation after the capture of former president Nicolas Maduro by the US
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will meet Brazil’s President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva on Saturday as the two countries seek to strengthen ties in trade, critical minerals, defence, energy and digital tech.
Lula will be on a state visit to India focused on Global South cooperation on the sidelines of AI Impact Summit. The Brazilian president is also likely to meet President Droupadi Murmu, Vice-President C P Radhakrishnan and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar.
The two leaders have maintained an open line of communication, with Lula calling Modi last month to discuss the Venezuelan situation after the capture of former president Nicolas Maduro by the US.
What’s on agenda?
India and Brazil are expected to focus on expanding bilateral trade, which currently stands at roughly $11–12 billion annually, with both sides seeing significant room for growth.
Strengthening economic ties is likely to go hand in hand with closer coordination within Brics, where the two countries have often aligned on issues related to the Global South and reform of global financial institutions.
Climate cooperation is also set to feature prominently, particularly around climate finance and the development of carbon markets. Defence collaboration and biofuel partnerships are emerging areas of interest, with Brazil keen to deepen cooperation on ethanol production and technology.
Both countries are also expected to continue pressing for reform of the UN Security Council, reiterating their long-standing demand for a more representative and multipolar global governance structure.
The big picture
India and Brazil are attempting to position themselves as leaders of the Global South, especially after divisions between Western economies and the China-Russia bloc.
Plus, this Lula visit and the meeting with PM Modi matter because Brazil currently chairs key Global South coalitions — and India looks for alignment before the next Brics summit.
As strategic partners, India and Brazil coordinate through a range of institutional mechanisms. These include the Joint Commission Meeting at the foreign minister level, the Strategic Dialogue between national security advisers, and Foreign Office Consultations at the secretary level.
Economic engagement is structured through platforms such as the Trade Monitoring Mechanism, the Economic and Financial Dialogue, and the India–Brazil Business Leaders Forum. Cooperation also extends to sector-specific forums, including the Joint Defence Committee, the Joint Committee on Science and Technology, and a dedicated Dialogue on Consular and Mobility Issues.
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