Brasilia (Brazil): The Brazilian solar had barely risen when Prime Minister Narendra Modi stood beside President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva at Alvorada Palace, hand-in-hand, sharing a second that symbolised greater than diplomatic optics. Brazil rolled out crimson carpet and wrapped PM Modi within the colors of the Southern Cross.
On July 9, throughout a joint look, PM Modi was conferred with Brazil’s highest civilian honour – the Grand Collar of the Nationwide Order of the Southern Cross. The second was about what the 2 international locations are selecting to construct collectively.
“Now we have set a objective to lift bilateral commerce to twenty billion {dollars} over the subsequent 5 years,” PM Modi declared, linking Brazil’s ardour for soccer with India’s love for cricket.
“Whether or not it’s sending the ball previous the boundary or into the objective, when each are on the identical crew, a $20 billion partnership will not be troublesome to realize,” he mentioned.
Behind these poetic phrases sat a coverage. The go to apparently has opened a brand new chapter in India’s diplomatic and financial outreach to Latin America.
The centrepiece of the go to was the excellent bilateral dialogue held on the Presidential Palace in Brasilia. The 2 leaders mentioned a broad spectrum of points from defence to digital public infrastructure, agriculture to synthetic intelligence and local weather change to conventional medication.
Modi emphasised the rising India-Brazil defence bond, highlighting mutual belief and a shared curiosity in linking defence industries. Collaboration in synthetic intelligence, supercomputers and demanding minerals additionally fashioned key pillars of debate.
A $20 Billion Imaginative and prescient
Vitality transition and sustainability emerged as high priorities. Each international locations pledged to align their clear vitality objectives, with Brazil’s wealthy reserves of lithium and uncommon earths providing alternatives for India’s inexperienced ambitions.
The 2 international locations have agreed to raise commerce discussions to a ministerial stage, maintaining shut watch over commerce, funding and market entry. PM Modi requested Lula’s help in increasing the India-MERCOSUR Preferential Commerce Settlement. The Brazilian president agreed to the request. Brazil at present chairs the commerce bloc.
Kumaran, the Secretary (East) at India’s Exterior Affairs Ministry, known as it a major dedication. “The leaders famous ample alternatives lie forward for diversifying and increasing bilateral commerce,” he mentioned.
Digital Push, UPI Footprint and Well being Synergy
India’s digital success story has caught Latin America’s eye. PM Modi introduced each international locations are collaborating to convey India’s UPI system to Brazil.
Three main MoUs have been signed on July 9 – cooperation in counter-terrorism and organised crime, sharing of digital public infrastructure instruments and a pact on renewable vitality. Extra have been set to observe, together with on agriculture analysis, mutual safety of labeled info and mental property.
Well being was one other pillar. India requested Brazil to fast-track approval for medicines already cleared by the US FDA or Europe’s EDQM. The transfer might assist slash healthcare prices for Brazilians.
Defence, Local weather and Crucial Minerals
Modi emphasised the rising India-Brazil defence bond, calling it a mirrored image of “deep mutual belief”.
There may be additionally a clear vitality ambition shaping this relationship. With Brazil’s huge reserves of essential minerals like lithium and uncommon earth parts and India’s urge for food for safe provide chains for its inexperienced push, the 2 sides discovered widespread floor. PM Modi assured President Lula of India’s full backing for the COP30, which Brazil will host.
Synthetic intelligence, house and supercomputing additionally featured in talks – now not rising themes however priorities.
Terrorism and the World South
One message from PM Modi rang out loud: “We share a standard strategy within the struggle towards terrorism – zero tolerance and nil double requirements.”
President Lula’s help in condemning the Pahalgam terror assault in April, the place 26 Indian residents died, didn’t go unnoticed.
In a refined swipe at world energy imbalances, each leaders spoke concerning the World South. “It’s our ethical obligation to lift the considerations and priorities of the World South at world boards,” mentioned PM Modi.
Ayurveda, Samba and Visa-Free Desires
There was heat too. Brazil’s love for soccer and India’s cricket fever, their carnival colors and shared love for dance, delicacies and spirituality – all discovered house within the leaders’ phrases. Ayurveda and conventional medication will now be launched extra deeply in Brazil.
Modi spoke of “contact with out lengthy traces at visa counters”, promising smoother journey for college students, vacationers and businesspeople.
Regional and Multilateral Imaginative and prescient
The 2 international locations aren’t solely speaking commerce, they’re aligning multilateral methods. On the lunch hosted by President Lula, each leaders mentioned regional points and cooperation in teams like BRICS, G20, IPSA and the United Nations.
This go to marks Modi’s fourth to Brazil in 10 years however solely the second standalone bilateral one in almost six many years. From Rio to Brasilia and from strategic agreements to shared dances of diplomacy, India and Brazil are scripting one thing greater than a deal. They’re composing a brand new rhythm for the World South.
And as Modi heads subsequent to Namibia, carrying echoes of Samba and a pocketful of signed MoUs, the India-Brazil story feels extra like a future unfolding than a ceremony concluded.
(With ANI inputs)