Brazil Positively Considers Bangladesh's Inclusion in BRICS

Brazilian Foreign Minister Mauro Vieira

During a bilateral talk between the foreign ministers of Bangladesh and Brazil at the state guest house Jamuna in Dhaka, Brazilian Foreign Minister Mauro Vieira expressed Brazil's positive stance towards Bangladesh's interest in joining the BRICS alliance. Vieira emphasized that Bangladesh shares principles and positions with the BRICS member states, making its inclusion in the alliance a strong and positive consideration from Brazil's perspective.

Interest in BRICS Membership: Bangladesh has shown interest in becoming a member of BRICS, an alliance consisting of Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, aimed at establishing economic and political equilibrium among powerful global nations. Brazil views Bangladesh's interest favorably, considering it an emerging voice of the Global South with potential contributions to BRICS on various issues.

Bilateral Talks: Vieira's visit to Bangladesh aims to strengthen bilateral and commercial ties between the two countries. Discussions between the foreign ministers explored new avenues of cooperation, particularly in areas of balanced trade. Bangladesh's interest in a MERCOSUR-Bangladesh Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA) was welcomed by Brazil, highlighting potential business opportunities and private sector engagements.

MERCOSUR-Bangladesh PTA: Both Bangladesh and Brazil expressed their commitment to initiating the process for negotiating a MERCOSUR-Bangladesh PTA at the earliest opportunity. MERCOSUR, originally comprising Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, and Uruguay, aims to foster economic and political cooperation among member states. The inclusion of Bolivia as a full member in 2023 expanded the bloc's reach.

Technical Cooperation Agreement: Following the discussions, Bangladesh and Brazil signed an agreement on Technical Cooperation, marking a significant step in enhancing cooperation between the two countries.

The visit of Brazilian Foreign Minister Mauro Vieira signifies the importance of strengthening ties between Bangladesh and Brazil. Brazil's positive consideration of Bangladesh's inclusion in BRICS and the commitment to expanding bilateral cooperation through initiatives such as the MERCOSUR-Bangladesh PTA and Technical Cooperation Agreement bode well for future collaborations between the two nations.

This report provides an overview of the key discussions and agreements reached during the foreign minister-level visit from Brazil, underscoring the mutual commitment to deepening ties and fostering cooperation in various domains.