New Delhi, Feb 17 (.) Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva arrives here on February 18 on a five-day State visit to India for talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on strengthening the India-Brazil Strategic Partnership, focusing on Defence, trade, energy, agriculture and health.
Several Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) in sectors such as energy, civil aviation, critical minerals, and pharmaceuticals are expected to be signed during the visit.
Sources said Brazil is reportedly moving towards introducing 10-year multiple-entry visas for Indian tourists and also easing business visa norms between the two countries.
Discussions between Prime Minister Modi and President da Silva will also include climate change and strengthening the United Nations, reinforcing their shared goals for the Global South.
Both leaders would review the entire gamut of bilateral relations. The Prime Minister is scheduled to host a lunch in honour of the visiting dignitary. The two leaders would also exchange views on regional and global issues of mutual interest, including cooperation in multilateral fora, reformed multilateralism, global governance and issues concerning the Global South, an External Affairs Ministry spokesman said.
The visit from February 18-22 at the invitation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi is significant as it comes amid the tariff war announced by the United States against India and Brazil.
The Brazilian President will be leading a high-level delegation, including about 14 cabinet ministers and more than 200 business leaders, marking the largest-ever Brazilian delegation to visit India.
President Lula will participate in the ongoing India-AI Impact Summit in New Delhi on February 19-20.
On February 21, he is scheduled to hold talks with Prime Minister Modi
The President and his accompanying business delegation will attend the Brazil–India Business Forum to discuss enhancing investment and commercial integration.
President da Silva is also expected to meet President Droupadi Murmu, who will host a banquet in his honour.
Vice President C.P. Radhakrishnan and External Affairs Minister Dr S. Jaishankar will call on the Brazilian President.
This will be the sixth visit of President Lula to India. He had first visited India in 2004 as the Guest of Honour for Republic Day celebrations and last for the G20 Summit in September 2023. Both Prime Minister Modi and President Lula have, however, been meeting frequently in between. Prime Minister Modi was in Brasilia on a State Visit from July 7-8, the first State Visit by an Indian Prime Minister in the last 57 years. Both leaders also met in Johannesburg during the G20 in November 2025.
India and Brazil share a warm, close and multi-faceted Strategic Partnership, rooted in shared democratic values, close people-to-people ties and expanding cooperation across key sectors. The two large democracies have been Strategic Partners since 2006.
Brazil is India’s largest trading partner in the LAC region.
The LAC Region (Latin America and the Caribbean Region) is a diverse, 41-plus country geographic and economic grouping spanning from Mexico and The Bahamas down to Argentina and Chile. It includes South America, Central America, and the Caribbean islands, often defined by shared colonial history, languages (Spanish/Portuguese), and economic, environmental, or development-focused initiatives.
Bilateral engagement between the two has continued to deepen in areas such as trade and investment, Defence, energy, agriculture, health and pharmaceuticals, including renewables, critical minerals, rare earth materials, science & technology and innovation, including in AI, space and people-to-people contact. The two countries share common views on various international issues, including UN reforms, climate change and combating terrorism.
‘’The Visit of President Lula will provide an opportunity for both sides to chart a forward-looking agenda for further strengthening the bilateral Strategic Partnership and further deepen cooperation across bilateral, regional and global platforms, on issues of mutual interest,’’ the External Affairs Ministry spokesman added.
. RB 1426
