In a sign of shifting geopolitical alignments, Brazilian President Lula da Silva arrived in India leading the largest-ever Brazilian business delegation — some 260 firms — with eyes on trade deals and reform of global governance institutions.
“As two of the world’s largest democracies and dynamic economies, India and Brazil cannot remain distant,” Lula said in an interview ahead of the visit. Bilateral trade reached historic highs in 2025, though both leaders acknowledge it remains “far below its true potential.”
The visit coincides with India assuming the BRICS presidency from Brazil, as the expanded bloc seeks to navigate a world fractured by war, tariffs, and what South American leaders have dubbed the U.S.’s “Donroe Doctrine” — a reassertion of Monroe Doctrine–style influence over the Western Hemisphere, particularly following the U.S. military’s capture of Venezuelan President Maduro.