PM Modi: First Indian PM In 57 Years To Make State Visit To Brazil

Prime Minister Narendra Modi concluded a significant four-day visit to Brazil that not only deepened India-Brazil bilateral relations but also strengthened South-South cooperation and amplified the voice of the Global South on key international platforms. The visit, which included his participation in the BRICS Summit in Rio de Janeiro and a bilateral State Visit to Brasília, was marked by a series of high-impact diplomatic engagements, multilateral discussions, and strategic agreements.

How Is India Amplifying the Voice of the Global South?

At the BRICS Summit, Prime Minister Modi emphasized the urgent need to reform global governance institutions, arguing for enhanced representation, fairness, and credibility. He highlighted that Global South nations—developing countries in Asia, Africa, and Latin America—often face double standards in global policy on development, resources, and security matters. These countries, he argued, receive little more than token gestures on pressing issues like climate finance, sustainable development, and technology access.

“Without the Global South, these institutions are like a mobile phone with a SIM card but without a network.” – PM Modi

He stressed that reforms in governance structures, voting rights, and leadership positions within international institutions like the United Nations, IMF, and World Bank are necessary not only for representation but for the credibility and effectiveness of these bodies.

What Were India’s Key Contributions at the BRICS Summit in Rio de Janeiro?

During the BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa) Summit in Rio de Janeiro, PM Modi addressed sessions on “Environment, CoP30 and Global Health.” He spoke about the interconnection between planetary and human health, stating that Indians have long revered nature. He emphasized that for India, climate justice is not optional but a moral duty.

He announced that during India’s BRICS Presidency next year, the forum will be redefined as:

BRICS: “Building Resilience and Innovation for Cooperation and Sustainability.”

Another significant outcome from the BRICS summit was the unanimous condemnation of the April 22 terrorist attack in Jammu and Kashmir, which killed 26 people. The BRICS Leaders' Declaration called for:

• Zero tolerance for terrorism

• Rejection of double standards in counter-terrorism

• Crackdown on cross-border terrorism, terrorist financing, and safe havens

India-Brazil Bilateral Relations

Following the BRICS Summit, PM Modi paid a State Visit to Brasília, where he held bilateral talks with Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. This was PM Modi’s fourth visit to Brazil in four years and marked only the second bilateral visit by an Indian Prime Minister to Brazil in 57 years—a reflection of the growing strategic importance of the relationship.

At a joint press conference, PM Modi announced that bilateral trade between India and Brazil—currently valued at $12.2 billion—should be scaled up to $20 billion over the next five years. This economic goal is to be achieved through:

• Expansion of the Mercosur Preferential Trade Agreement to include more products and improve market access for Indian exporters.

(Note: Mercosur is a South American trade bloc comprising Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay, and Uruguay.)

• Enhanced cooperation in key sectors such as:

  • Agriculture

  • Food processing

  • Agri-tech and value-added food exports

  • Digital Public Infrastructure (including India’s Unified Payments Interface)

  • Space technology

Why Was PM Modi Honored with Brazil’s Highest Civilian Award?

In a moment of diplomatic honor, PM Modi was conferred Brazil’s highest civilian award—The Grand Collar of the National Order of the Southern Cross—by President Lula da Silva. This prestigious recognition acknowledged PM Modi’s contributions to bolstering India-Brazil strategic partnerships and his leadership in global diplomacy.

Key Agreements and Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs)

Three major agreements were signed and exchanged in the presence of both leaders:

1. Cooperation in combating international terrorism and transnational organized crime

2. Sharing of digital solutions for large-scale digital transformation

3. Cooperation in renewable energy

Additionally, the following MoUs are expected to be signed soon:

• Agriculture research collaboration

• Exchange of classified information

• Intellectual Property Rights cooperation

Further discussions included:

• Facilitating visa liberalization for Indian businesspeople and tourists

• Encouraging Indian pharma companies to set up operations in Brazil

• Increasing access to cost-effective Indian medicines in Brazil

• Promoting Indian investments in Brazil’s critical mineral assets, including rare earth minerals

  • Rare earth minerals are a group of 17 elements critical for electronics, renewable energy, and defense applications.

President Lula da Silva confirmed that a forthcoming policy will offer incentives for Indian investment in this sector, possibly through Joint Ventures.

How Is Soft Diplomacy Enhancing India-Brazil Relations?

PM Modi and President Lula also explored people-to-people engagement, emphasizing:

• Joint efforts in sports cooperation and sports management

• Leveraging India’s expertise in cricket and Brazil’s global stature in football for capacity building

• Promoting cultural exchanges and enhancing connectivity between the two nations

What Does This Visit Mean for the Future of South-South Solidarity?

PM Modi’s visit to Brazil marks a new chapter in India’s diplomacy with Latin America, reinforcing both countries' shared vision for a multipolar, equitable, and inclusive world order. With high-level agreements, ambitious trade targets, and a united call for institutional reform, the visit strengthens India's position as a leading voice of the Global South.

As the world moves toward an era of multipolarity, India and Brazil stand poised to collaborate not just as bilateral partners, but as co-architects of a just global order.

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