Brazil Eyes Stronger Ties With India Through President Lula’s Visit For AI Summit

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has announced that President Lula will pay a state visit to India from February 18 to 22 and participate in the second AI Summit in New Delhi from February 19 to 20.

Speaking at the weekly briefing, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said the visit is being undertaken at the invitation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

“His Excellency, the President of the Federative Republic of Brazil, will be paying a State Visit to India from 18–22 February 2026. President Lula will be participating in the 2nd AI Summit, which is to be held from 19 to 20 February here in Delhi,” Jaiswal said.

Will there be high-level bilateral engagements on February 21?

According to the MEA, February 21 will be the main day of bilateral engagements during the visit. President Lula will be hosted by India’s President and will meet the Vice President and other senior leaders.

“The main day of the Brazilian State Visit, bilateral talks will be on 21st February. President Lula will be hosted by our Honourable President on the 21st, and there will be several other dignitaries who will be calling on him, including the Honourable Vice President of India,” Jaiswal said.

A business delegation will also accompany the President to explore trade and investment opportunities.

Who is accompanying President Lula?

President Lula will be accompanied by several ministers and a large business delegation. The MEA said multiple engagements have been planned to facilitate interactions between Indian and Brazilian companies.

Brazil’s Trade and Investment Promotion Agency, ApexBrasil, opened accreditation for up to 200 business leaders. Nearly 150 private-sector representatives have confirmed participation, highlighting strong interest in the Indian market.

Brazil has also rented a 500-seat auditorium in India to host meetings between President Lula and business leaders, aimed at promoting investment and partnerships.

Is there a India-France-Brazil Link at AI Summit?

The MEA confirmed that French President Emmanuel Macron will also attend the AI Summit, making Lula the second leader officially announced for the event.

“With this, we have made an announcement for the second leader who will be visiting India for the AI Summit and for bilateral talks,” Jaiswal said.

He added that details of other participating leaders would be shared soon.

“We will be giving you more details of other leaders who are coming to the AI Summit… It will help you in preparing your engagement for the AI Summit,” he said.

Is there a foreign policy recalibration for Brazil on the cards?

The visit reflects Brazil’s broader effort to reduce economic dependence on traditional partners such as the United States and China while strengthening ties with emerging economies like India, according to Brasil 247.

Officials at Brazil’s presidential palace have described the upcoming trip as one of the largest overseas missions of the current administration, underlining its strategic importance.

India-Brazil political engagement has intensified in recent years. In October 2025, Brazilian Vice President Geraldo Alckmin and Defence Minister Jose Mucio Monteiro visited India and held talks on defence cooperation and sovereignty.

Discussions also focused on expanding the Mercosur-India Preferential Trade Agreement, in place since 2009.

In January 2026, President Lula and Prime Minister Modi spoke by phone and reiterated support for comprehensive United Nations reforms, including changes to the Security Council.

Is there a trade, investment, and economic link to President Lula’s visit?

Brazil has recently opened a new business office in India, one of only around 20 such offices worldwide, to diversify its exports.

In 2025, crude oil accounted for nearly 30 per cent of Brazil’s exports to India. The new office aims to reduce dependence on a narrow export base.

Trade figures show India has become Brazil’s tenth-largest export destination, with exports worth USD 6.9 billion, and the sixth-largest import source at USD 8.4 billion. Despite a USD 1.5 billion trade deficit for Brazil, bilateral trade grew strongly, with exports rising 30.2 per cent and imports increasing 21.9 per cent.

Is there a focus on agriculture and technology?

Agriculture will also feature prominently during the visit. Brazil plans to offer technical cooperation in family farming and has included a representative from Embrapa, its agricultural research agency, in the delegation.

Technology, especially artificial intelligence, is another key focus, with Lula’s participation in the AI Summit expected to open new avenues for digital collaboration.

What is the political significance of the visit?

Beyond trade and technology, the visit carries major political significance. Brazilian officials see the India outreach as strengthening Lula’s image as a global leader seeking to assert Brazil’s interests internationally.

The trip is also expected to reinforce India-Brazil cooperation within forums such as BRICS and other multilateral platforms.

(With inputs from ANI)