New Delhi – Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva held a joint press conference in New Delhi on Saturday, highlighting the growing strategic partnership between India and Brazil and reaffirming their commitment to strengthening the voice of the Global South on the international stage.
PM Modi emphasized that the collaboration between the two democratic nations enables the Global South to address contemporary global challenges more effectively. “India and Brazil’s partnership on the global stage has been strong and influential. Together, we amplify the voice of the Global South,” he said. He also called for reform of international institutions and stressed that all problems must be resolved through dialogue and diplomacy, while condemning terrorism and its supporters as enemies of humanity.
Speaking at the press meet, President Lula reflected on PM Modi’s visit to Brasília last July, noting that during that trip, both nations restructured their bilateral cooperation agenda in five key areas: defence and security, food and nutritional security, energy transition and climate change, digital transformation and emerging technologies, and industrial partnerships in strategic sectors. “Today, in the year we celebrate 20 years of the Brazil-India Strategic Partnership, we are moving into action,” Lula said, highlighting several agreements signed to strengthen collaboration in these areas.
PM Modi Highlights Cooperation in Agriculture, Minerals, Defence, and Healthcare with Brazil
PM Modi highlighted specific areas of cooperation, including climate-resilient agriculture, precision farming, and biofertilisers, which will enhance food security for both nations. He also pointed to agreements on critical minerals and rare earths as a step toward building resilient supply chains, while noting steady growth in defence sector cooperation. He added that there is significant potential in the health and pharmaceutical sectors, with plans to increase the supply of affordable and quality medicines from India to Brazil.
Our talks focussed on ways to deepen the India-Brazil trade partnership. We are committed to taking bilateral trade much beyond $20 billion in the next five years. Our nations will also work closely in areas such as technology, innovation, Digital Public Infrastructure, AI,… pic.twitter.com/o3sWSJoR9H
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) February 21, 2026
Both leaders expressed confidence that bilateral trade will exceed USD 20 billion in the next five years. PM Modi also thanked President Lula for participating in the Global AI Impact Summit, praising his vision and leadership in strengthening India-Brazil ties.
Earlier in the day, PM Modi and President Lula held delegation-level talks, attended by key officials including External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, and other senior officials.
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The Brazilian President was accorded a ceremonial welcome at Rashtrapati Bhavan, where he received a Guard of Honour from PM Modi and President Droupadi Murmu, marking the start of his official state visit to India.
The summit and bilateral meetings underscored the growing strategic alignment between India and Brazil, focusing on trade, innovation, defence, technology, and sustainable development, reflecting a shared commitment to mutual growth and strengthening the Global South’s voice in global affairs.