New Delhi [India], June 30 (ANI): Brazil has expressed strong interest in deepening defence ties with India, particularly in the areas of battlefield communication systems, naval capabilities, and advanced missile and artillery platforms, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said on Monday.
In a special briefing ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s upcoming five-nation tour—including Ghana, Trinidad & Tobago, Argentina, Brazil, and Namibia—MEA Secretary (East) P. Kumaran outlined Brazil’s strategic intent to collaborate with India in the defence sector through joint research, technology sharing, and training exchanges.
“There will be a discussion on defence cooperation with Brazil. They are looking at avenues for joint research, technology sharing, and training exchanges,” said Kumaran. “Broadly, we have a few areas that seem to be of interest to the Brazilian side. They are interested in secure communication systems on the battlefield, offshore patrol vessels, and the maintenance of Scorpène-class submarines, which they operate.”
Brazil is also exploring India’s indigenously developed Akash Air Defence system, coastal surveillance technologies, and the Garuda artillery gun. These platforms have gained prominence in India’s defence posture, particularly in response to recent regional tensions.
The Akash missile system, a medium-range surface-to-air missile platform, provides area defence against a variety of airborne threats. It has played a pivotal role in countering Pakistani drone intrusions during high-alert periods, such as the aftermath of the Pahalgam terror attack and India’s subsequent Operation Sindoor. In early May, the Indian Army successfully intercepted multiple drone incursions along the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir using the Akash system.
“Brazil is also interested in co-developing and manufacturing defence technologies through joint ventures with India,” Kumaran added, emphasizing opportunities for collaborative industrial expansion in both countries.
The discussion on strategic cooperation will not be limited to defence. Nuclear energy collaboration is also on the agenda, with both countries seeking to pivot towards greener energy sources. “On nuclear cooperation, there is interest, as both countries want to move away towards greener sources of energy,” Kumaran noted.
Prime Minister Modi is scheduled to visit Brazil from July 5 to July 8 as part of the fourth leg of his overseas tour. He will attend the 17th BRICS Summit in Rio de Janeiro before heading to Brasília for a state visit at the invitation of Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.
The 17th BRICS Leaders’ Summit will bring together ten full members and several partner and invitee nations to deliberate on key global challenges. The agenda includes reforming global governance, advancing peace and security, promoting multilateralism, ensuring responsible use of artificial intelligence, and addressing climate change, health, and economic issues.
On July 6, Modi is expected to hold one-on-one talks with President Lula, focusing on deepening the Strategic Partnership across trade, defence, energy, agriculture, health, space, technology, and people-to-people ties.
MEA Secretary (Economic Relations) Dammu Ravi also shared expectations for a strong outcome from the summit. “We are confident that there will be a leaders’ declaration,” Ravi said, referring to the consensus-based document that reflects deliberations held over the past six months at various ministerial and working group levels.
PM Modi’s tour, commencing July 2, aims to expand India’s diplomatic and economic outreach across the Global South, reinforcing New Delhi’s commitment to inclusive multilateralism and strategic partnerships. (ANI)
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