Brazil, India are building strategic ties for a changing world, says Brazil’s Foreign Minister

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Brazilian Foreign Minister Mauro Vieira addressing the Leaders' Session of the BRICS Business Forum, in New Delhi on Friday, September 11, 2026. | Photo Credit: ANI

In an interview with The Hindu in New Delhi, Brazil’s Foreign Minister Mauro Vieira praises India’s BRICS presidency, says bilateral trade could exceed the $30 billion target well before 2030 and argues that BRICS is not an anti-Western bloc.

President Lula visited India earlier this year, and there was a very strong sense of enthusiasm among Indian business leaders about Brazil. Bilateral trade is also expanding rapidly. How do you see the future of Brazil–India relations?

Brazil and India have everything they need to build, in addition to the excellent political relationship we already have, a very strong economic relationship. India is an enormous country, with a huge population and highly sophisticated industries. When President Lula was here earlier this year, he and Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the goal of reaching $30 billion in bilateral trade by 2030. We are already approaching $20 billion. Trade reached around $15 billion last year, with very strong growth, and according to current projections, this year it should reach around $20 billion.

Petrobras is very satisfied with its business in India and is selling a great deal here. There are also several other projects that could materialise in the short term and significantly increase bilateral trade. Embraer has major interests in India and is working very actively, both in commercial aviation, which is obviously very important in a country of India’s size, and in defence, with the KC-390 and Super Tucano aircraft.

WEG also has a very significant international presence, and Vale is another major Brazilian company with interests here. Yesterday, I met a group of Brazilian business leaders representing around 20 companies, including large companies such as Vale, Embraer and WEG, as well as associations representing meat exporters and other sectors. If some of the deals currently being developed by Embraer, Vale, WEG and other companies materialise, bilateral trade could exceed US$30 billion in the short term. We could reach that target well before 2030.

How do you assess India’s BRICS presidency and the transition from the Brazilian presidency to the Indian one?

I believe Brazil was very successful in the major presidencies it held in recent years. The G20 was very important and laid the foundations for action in several areas. The BRICS presidency was also very important, as was COP.

It is interesting that a significant number of BRICS members are also members of the G20. That creates an important space for dialogue and coordination. Brazil launched important initiatives in both the G20 and BRICS and passed them forward. India, during its BRICS presidency, carried many of these projects forward in several areas.

The New Development Bank is also extremely important. The meeting in Mumbai was very significant, and there are many interesting developments taking place.