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The burgeoning strategic partnership between India and Brazil is poised to play a pivotal role in shaping a more equitable and multipolar world order. As Prime Minister Modi embarks on a visit to Rio de Janeiro for the 2025 BRICS Summit and Brasilia for a landmark bilateral state visit – the first by an Indian PM in nearly six decades – the spotlight intensifies on the convergences and shared aspirations driving this crucial relationship. For too long, the India-Brazil connection has been relegated to the realm of South-South solidarity or symbolic multilateralism. However, recent years have witnessed a significant shift, with the axis gaining increasing geopolitical recognition. As India steadily enhances its international footprint and Brazil seeks to restore its regional leadership, the synergies between these two democracies are transitioning from mere rhetoric to concrete strategic initiatives, fueled by a shared vision of a fairer and more balanced global landscape. In an era marked by an expanding BRICS framework and mounting challenges to the established international system, Brazil has emerged as an invaluable partner for India within BRICS and the United Nations, effectively amplifying the voices and ambitions of the Global South. India's strategic alignment with Brazil underscores the nation's commitment to fostering a multipolar world order, one where the interests and perspectives of developing nations are given due consideration and representation. This partnership is not merely about economic cooperation or trade relations; it represents a fundamental shift in the global power dynamics, challenging the dominance of Western-centric institutions and advocating for a more inclusive and representative system of international governance.
Brazil's importance to India extends beyond its status as Latin America's largest economy. It is a like-minded democratic nation with whom India seeks to collaboratively shape the rules of international engagement. This shared vision is manifested in the increasing frequency and intensity of high-level interactions between the two countries. President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and Prime Minister Modi have repeatedly affirmed their commitment to elevating the Strategic Partnership to the next level since Lula's re-election in 2023. The current geopolitical climate lends particular significance to this convergence. The Rio BRICS Summit, the first since the grouping's expansion in 2024, unfolds against the backdrop of a fracturing international order where the very foundations of multilateralism are being questioned. Western institutions are increasingly perceived as self-absorbed, while the Global South is asserting its voice with greater force and conviction. In this dynamic and uncertain world, India and Brazil offer a compelling alternative: a development-focused and democratic approach to global governance. Their collaboration within BRICS aims to transform the grouping from a mere symbol of rising power solidarity into a platform for delivering tangible benefits to the Global South. This includes exploring alternative sources of finance through mechanisms like the New Development Bank, and promoting innovative models of trade, digital connectivity, and climate finance that cater to the specific needs and challenges of developing nations. The partnership between India and Brazil is thus not just about bilateral interests but about reshaping the global order to better reflect the aspirations and priorities of the Global South.
The Brazilian presidency of BRICS this year and India's upcoming chairmanship in 2026 represents a unique opportunity for strategic alignment and collaborative action. Under Lula's leadership, Brazil has emphasized a more politically integrated BRICS, one that actively champions democratic values and challenges the inherent imbalances of the current world order. Modi has echoed this sentiment, arguing that BRICS must serve as a catalyst for international institutional reform. Both leaders firmly believe that the Global South should no longer be relegated to the role of passive recipients of international decisions but should actively participate in co-authoring international rules. This convergence of perspectives extends beyond the BRICS framework. Both nations are equally committed to reforming the United Nations Security Council and are prominent members of the G4 grouping (India, Brazil, Germany, Japan) advocating for permanent representation for emerging powers. They perceive the current UNSC configuration as outdated and unrepresentative, failing to reflect the evolving global power dynamics. During their recent bilateral meeting, Modi and Lula reiterated their support for each other's candidacies and called for time-bound negotiations within the UN. Brazil has leveraged its G20 presidency in 2024 to highlight the urgent need for global governance reform, and India has been a staunch supporter of this agenda. Together, they have injected new momentum into what has historically been a stalled and frustratingly slow process of reform, demonstrating their shared commitment to creating a more inclusive and effective global governance architecture.
Another critical area of geopolitical convergence lies in their approach towards the Global South. India and Brazil have consistently championed the cause of Southern solidarity, but with a crucial difference: they offer pragmatic and implementable solutions. India's 2023 and Brazil's 2024 G20 presidencies were strategically centered around development agendas, encompassing inclusive finance, food security, digital public goods, and climate justice. Lula openly acknowledged that many of Brazil's G20 agendas drew inspiration from India's G20 Presidency, highlighting the seamless continuity and shared priorities. Modi himself has lauded Brazil for sustaining the momentum and ensuring continuity in amplifying the voices of the developing world. As South Africa prepares to assume the G20 presidency next year, the IBSA trio (India-Brazil-South Africa) will have achieved the unprecedented feat of leading the world's most powerful economic forum consecutively, presenting a unique moment of Southern convergence and solidarity. This collaborative leadership underscores the commitment of these nations to addressing the pressing challenges facing the Global South and advocating for a more equitable and sustainable development path.
Beyond the realm of multilateral diplomacy, the bilateral relationship between India and Brazil is also expanding with new substance and depth. Trade between the two nations has surpassed $12 billion, driven by complementarities in sectors such as energy, agro-products, and pharmaceuticals. Indian companies like UPL, Wipro, and Tata Motors have significantly expanded their operations in Brazil, while Brazilian enterprises in mining and airlines are actively exploring opportunities in the Indian marketplace. Modi's recent visit is expected to result in new agreements in areas such as green energy, food processing, and defense cooperation, further solidifying the economic ties between the two countries. These developments reflect a broader strategic shift: India increasingly views Latin America as a crucial region for engagement, while Brazil sees India as a gateway to the Indo-Pacific and the epicenter of Asia's economic resurgence. This evolving perspective underscores the growing recognition of the strategic importance of the India-Brazil relationship in the context of a rapidly changing global landscape.
Looking ahead, India and Brazil have the potential to transcend their current roles as co-passengers within the multilateral system and evolve into co-designers of a new international equilibrium of power. As bridge-builders between the Global South and the North, between democracies and developing nations, and between development and growth, their bilateral ties are increasingly becoming a global asset. For India, Brazil is not only a vital partner within BRICS but also a central element of a broader diplomatic strategy aimed at democratizing international institutions and transferring normative power. When Prime Minister Modi and President Lula convene at the Rio Summit, their discussions must be ambitious and forward-looking, recognizing that the India-Brazil relationship is no longer a peripheral concern but lies at the heart of how both nations envision the future of the world order. The strength of this relationship will be measured not only by shared desires but also by collaborative actions, spanning from the G4 to BRICS, from the UN to the G20. In a world desperately in need of new coalitions for reform, peace, and inclusive growth, the convergence of Delhi and Brasilia offers a compelling vision of a strong, democratic, and developmental multipolar world.
Source: BRICS Summit: Focus on India-Brazil strategic partnership for a multipolar world