- Prime Minister Modi and President Lula to Meet in New Delhi, Paving the Way for a Landmark Partnership in Rare Earths and Global Trade
NEW DELHI – In a significant boost to economic resilience and technological independence, India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva are scheduled to meet in New Delhi on Saturday. The high-profile summit aims to solidify a robust partnership focused on critical minerals and rare earths, marking a strategic step toward diversifying global supply chains.
Brazil, which holds the world’s second-largest reserves of these essential elements—vital for manufacturing everything from electric vehicles and solar panels to smartphones and aerospace components—is poised to become a key partner for India. As India aggressively expands its domestic production and recycling capabilities, this collaboration with Brazil offers a promising pathway to reduce dependence on single-source suppliers and secure the raw materials needed for its high-tech and green energy revolution.
President Lula, who arrived in New Delhi on Wednesday leading a high-powered delegation of ministers and business leaders, will engage in talks expected to culminate in a Memorandum of Understanding on critical minerals. This agreement is set to unlock new avenues for resource security and technological collaboration between the two nations.
The meeting builds on an already thriving economic relationship. India currently stands as the 10th largest market for Brazilian exports, with bilateral trade surpassing an impressive $15 billion in 2025. Looking ahead, both nations have set an ambitious and achievable target to boost this figure to $20 billion by 2030.
Experts view this growing partnership as a masterstroke in India’s foreign policy. “While India is actively securing advanced technologies and high-end processing capabilities through partnerships with the US, France, and the EU, alliances within the Global South are equally critical,” said Rishabh Jain, an expert at the Council on Energy, Environment and Water (CEEW). “The collaboration with Brazil is essential for securing diversified, on-ground resource access and for shaping the emerging rules of global trade in a way that benefits developing economies.”
Strengthening Multilateral Ties Amid Global Economic Shifts
Beyond resource cooperation, the leaders are expected to discuss strengthening multilateral trade systems. Following a period of global economic headwinds, both nations have demonstrated the power of dialogue and cooperation. Recent positive developments, including a trade deal that will see the US roll back tariffs on Indian goods, underscore the effectiveness of India’s proactive diplomatic engagements.
“President Lula and Prime Minister Modi have a vital opportunity to exchange views on strengthening multilateralism and international trade,” remarked Brazilian diplomat Susan Kleebank, Secretary for Asia and the Pacific.
Brazil, India’s premier partner in Latin America, already supplies essential commodities that fuel India’s rapid industrial growth and infrastructure expansion—including iron ore, which is in high demand as India marches toward becoming the world’s fourth-largest economy. This symbiotic relationship is extending into high-tech manufacturing as well, exemplified by the recent announcement from Embraer and the Adani Group to jointly build aircraft in India.
On the sidelines of his visit, President Lula addressed the AI Impact Summit in Delhi, championing a multilateral and inclusive global governance framework for artificial intelligence. Following his successful visit to India, President Lula will travel to South Korea for further meetings, continuing his tour to foster international cooperation.
BY: The Times Union
