INDIA - BRAZIL PARTNERSHIP

While headlines these days are dominated by how the U.S. President Donald Trump's unpredictable and essentially personal diplomatic pursuit is bringing India and China much closer, a relatively underreported but steady development is taking place simultaneously.

- By Prakash Nanda

And that is the growing proximity between India and Brazil in turning current global economic challenges, especially the tariff hikes imposed by the U.

S., into new opportunities for deeper bilateral cooperation, in which a structured and strategic defence partnership will be a key component with concrete pathways across aerospace, maritime, and land-based defence systems.

Incidentally, India and Brazil, both members of the multilateral organisations like BRICS and IBSA (India, Brazil and South Africa Dialogue Forum) and leading countries of the Global South, have been the worst victims of Trump's tariff war. As of now, these are the only two countries on which Trump has imposed duties at 50 per cent.

No wonder Modi and Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva are now in regular touch and said to be charting a different path that could reshape how developing countries resist American pressure.

Last fortnight, they had prolonged talks over the phone, which, according to the officials of the two countries, focused on charting a long-term strategic road map so as to turn challenges facing the two countries into new opportunities in their bilateral relations.

Apparently, Lula has confirmed a state visit to India in early 2026 by accepting the invitation of Modi, who visited Brazil in July. And during this visit, India and Brazil had decided on what was said to be the "five priority pillars" to work together toward strengthening bilateral cooperation based on "strong economic and technological complementarities".