India and Brazil took a significant step toward strengthening their strategic partnership with the 8th Joint Defence Committee (JDC) meeting held in Brasília on July 30, 2025, focusing on enhancing military cooperation, defence industry ties, and regional security in the Indo-Pacific and Latin America. The talks, led by India’s Joint Secretary (International Cooperation) Vishwesh Negi and Brazil’s Major General Willain Koji Kamei, Deputy Chief of Policy and Strategy, underscore the growing alignment between the two Global South powers.
The meeting, part of a 2003 bilateral defence agreement, explored avenues for joint training, technology transfers, and co-production, aligning with India’s “Aatmanirbhar Bharat” initiative for self-reliance in defence. Discussions highlighted Brazil’s interest in India’s Akash missile system and potential collaboration on Scorpene submarine maintenance, leveraging Brazil’s naval expertise. The Indian Air Force is also evaluating Brazil’s Embraer C-390 for its Medium Transport Aircraft needs, with Mahindra Aerospace as a potential partner for local production, per Raksha Anirveda.
Negi met Admiral Renato Rodrigues de Aguiar Freire, Chief of the Brazilian Armed Forces’ Joint Staff, alongside India’s Ambassador to Brazil, Dr. Dinesh Bhatia, to discuss expanding joint exercises and technology sharing. The talks reflect shared goals of countering geopolitical challenges, including China’s growing influence in Latin America, and fostering stability in their respective regions.
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The partnership, rooted in a 2006 Strategic Partnership, extends to multilateral forums like BRICS and G20, where Brazil currently holds the presidency. With bilateral trade reaching $15.2 billion in 2022, defence cooperation is poised to diversify India’s equipment sources and boost its $5 billion export target by 2025, as stated by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh. Despite logistical challenges due to geographical distance, the commitment to mutual growth and regional security signals a robust future for India-Brazil defence ties.
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