Context
Recently India’s External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar co-chaired the ninth India-Brazil Joint Commission along with his Brazilian counterpart Mauro Vieira in New Delhi.
About
- India’s External Affairs Minister said that India-Brazil strategic partnership has “deepened and diversified” through the years. It spans security, space, security, technology, and people-to-people relations, strengthening ties across various domain names.
- India reiterated its complete help to the Brazilian G20 presidency as it is presently the chair of the bloc.
- The G20 presidency was relayed to Brazil by India last year.
Major Highlights of India and Brazil Relations
- Strategic Partnership: Relations were set up in 1948, and the two countries were Strategic Partners given that 2006.
- Both sides also have numerous Joint Working Groups to take ahead sectoral cooperation.
- Trade Relations: In 2022, the bilateral trade accelerated 32% to US$15.2 billion (India’s exports US$8.8 billion & Imports – US$6.4 billion).
- India and Brazil have established Trade Monitoring Mechanism as an institutional mechanism to monitor and be aware of bottlenecks in bilateral exchange and take appropriate measures to address them.
- Defence & Security Cooperation: India and Brazil signed an agreement in 2003 for cooperation in security. Meetings of the Joint Defence Committee (JDC) are held as an institutionalized mechanism for defense cooperation.
- Security Cooperation: India and Brazil mounted a Strategic Dialogue mechanism in 2006 to cover regional and international problems of mutual situation.
- The two countries have an Extradition Treaty, Mutual Legal assistance Treaty in Criminal Matters and an Agreement of Transfer of Sentenced Persons in place.
- Space Cooperation: India and Brazil signed a framework agreement for non violent use of outer space in 2004 as well an Agreement for inter-institutional cooperation between the space agencies.
- Both countries have been collaborating in Data sharing and satellite monitoring of Indian satellites.
- Multifora Relations: India and Brazil proportion a totally near and multifaceted courting both at bilateral stage in addition to in plurilateral fora including BRICS, BASIC (a bloc including Brazil, South Africa, India and China), G-20, G-4, IBSA, International Solar Alliance, as well as in the larger multilateral our bodies which includes the UN, WTO, UNESCO, and WIPO.
Challenges in the Relations
- Geopolitical Competition: Both India and Brazil are rising powers with aspirations for more global influence. This results in opposition, especially in international forums like the United Nations, wherein both countries search for more representation and affect.
- Trade Barriers: Trade among India and Brazil has no longer reached its complete capacity, partially because of diverse trade limitations and securityist measures in both nations. These boundaries prevent the growth of bilateral trade and funding.
- Infrastructure and Connectivity: Improving infrastructure and connectivity among the two nations remains a task.
Way Ahead
- Overcoming the challenges requires sustained diplomatic efforts, better financial cooperation, and a commitment to finding a common floor on global issues.
- Despite the boundaries, the capability blessings of a more potent India-Brazil partnership make overcoming these challenges a worthwhile undertaking.
Source: The Hindu