U.S.-Brazil Relations – U.S. Department of State

Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken’s visit to Brasilia, Brazil, on February 20, 2024, underscores the United States’ commitment to support Brazil’s goals as chair of the Group of 20 (G20). Secretary Blinken will meet with Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva ahead of the G20 Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Rio de Janeiro. The Secretary will reaffirm our mutual interests in ensuring international peace, recognizing workers’ rights, promoting racial equality, and ending deforestation.

US-Brazil relationship

This year marks the 200th anniversary of the establishment of relations between the United States and Brazil. Following Brazil’s independence in 1822, the United States was one of the first countries to recognize Brazil in 1824. As the Western Hemisphere’s largest democracies, the U.S.-Brazil partnership is rooted in a shared commitment to sustainable economic growth and prosperity. Promoting international peace, security and respect for human rights. Protection of the environment and biodiversity. and strong defense, health and security cooperation.

Economic relations between the United States and Brazil

• Brazil is the world’s 11th largest economy, and the United States is Brazil’s second largest trading partner. Two-way trade in goods and services in 2022 was $120.7 billion.
• Brazil’s main imports from the United States are industrial and energy-related products, such as refined fuels, natural gas, fertilizers, aircraft, and medical equipment. Brazil’s main exports to the United States are crude oil, aircraft, steel, coffee, and wood pulp.
• U.S. exports to Brazil support approximately 130,000 jobs in the United States, and Brazilian exports to the United States support more than 500,000 jobs in Brazil, according to U.S. private sector data.
• According to Brazil’s central bank, U.S. direct investment in Brazil totaled $191.6 billion in 2021, the highest amount in the world.
• The United States and Brazil are seeking to expand their bilateral trade and economic partnership (ATEC) to foster more trade and investment.

US-Brazil relationship regarding human rights

• Since 2015, the two countries have addressed key multilateral and bilateral issues through the U.S.-Brazil Global Human Rights Working Group Dialogue. In the most recent Working Group Dialogue, held in February 2022, the United States and Brazil agreed to address police violence and racial bias, gender equality, indigenous rights protection and environmental protection, as well as better coordination within the United Nations. They also discussed important bilateral issues such as activists. , the protection and promotion of business and human rights, and religious freedom.
• In May 2023, the governments of Brazil and the United States relaunched the Joint United States-Brazil Action Plan to Eliminate Racial and Ethnic Discrimination and Promote Equality (JAPER), supporting President Biden and President Lula’s 2023 Fulfilling the promise made in February 2017, JAPER was revitalized as part of the policy. efforts to address racial and ethnic inequalities in both countries;
• In September 2023, President Biden and President Lula launched the Partnership for Worker Rights, the first joint global initiative between the United States and Brazil to advance worker rights around the world. . With this new initiative, the United States will strengthen and expand existing bilateral cooperation on these issues, and will help the United States and We intend to strengthen our cooperation with Brazilian labor stakeholders and the International Labor Organization.

Climate change initiatives in the United States and Brazil

• Brazil has one of the cleanest power generation matrices in the world, relying heavily on hydropower and increasing solar and wind power production. More than 60 percent of the Amazon rainforest, a globally important carbon sink, lies within Brazil’s borders.
• Although deforestation rates have increased over the past decade, Lula’s government has committed to ending deforestation by 2030 and achieving net-zero emissions by 2050.
• The United States commends Brazil’s success in cutting Amazon deforestation in half by 2023.
• The United States currently provides technical and financial assistance through a variety of instruments, including the USAID program, the U.S.-Brazil Energy Forum, and several dialogues focused on clean energy transitions.

Educational and cultural cooperation between the United States and Brazil

• The United States and Brazil have a long history of people-to-people ties through investments and exchanges in education, culture, sports, energy, health, agriculture, science and technology, English language training, and innovation.
• More than 60,000 young people, students, scholars, teachers, and professionals have participated in cultural and educational exchanges between the United States and Brazil.
• 42 EducationUSA centers help Brazilian high school and college students access opportunities to study in the United States.

US-Brazil technology and defense cooperation

• The United States and Brazil are increasing cooperation on defense issues, including research and development, technology security, and the acquisition and development of products and services. Under the umbrella of the 2015 U.S.-Brazil Defense Cooperation Agreement, various security cooperation agreements and initiatives facilitate joint exercises and facilitate the sharing of advanced capabilities and technology.
• Brazil became a major non-NATO ally of the United States in July 2019.
• In March 2022, Brazil’s Congress ratified the Research, Development, Testing and Evaluation (RDT&E) Agreement with the United States, allowing for potential collaborations between U.S. and Brazilian defense technology companies.
• The draft Mutual Defense Procurement Agreement (RDPA) was published by Brazil in early February 2024 for a 60-day public comment period. The RDPA will bring economic and security benefits to both countries.

US support for Brazil

• The U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement (INL) and the Office of Oceans and International Environmental Sciences (OES), along with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the U.S. Department of Justice, the U.S. Forest Service, and other partners, are developing the law. Enforcement and justice sector training for Brazilian counterparts to support efforts to combat natural crimes affecting the United States, Brazil, and the region.
• The U.S. government has also adopted various INL programs to build the capacity of Brazilian law enforcement partners. Led by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, and other partners, the INL-funded training will improve public safety, deter drugs, and help Brazil-based multinationals that threaten the safety and security of the United States. Develop Brazil’s capacity to counter the expansion of criminal organizations. prosperity.
• The U.S. government also provides security assistance to Brazil’s military educational institutions within the Ministry of Defense. For example, the Global Defense Reform Program has forged a long-term partnership with Brazil’s Superior Defense College and continues to strengthen its institutional capacity and curriculum.
• Since fiscal year 2017, the U.S. government has provided more than $3.6 billion in humanitarian, economic, development, and health assistance to protect and assist Venezuelans across the region, including more than $178 million in Brazil. Supporting Venezuelans.
• USAID has several resources to promote biodiversity conservation in the Amazon, private sector partnerships to promote best practices, and development solutions for biodiversity conservation and sustainable socio-economic livelihoods. We have a long-term bilateral partnership with the Brazilian government across joint priorities. Amazon.

Brazil’s membership in international organizations

• Brazil and the United States share a commitment to multilateral engagement through many international organizations, including the United Nations, the Organization of American States, the Inter-American Development Bank, the G20, the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank, and World Trade. organization.
• For the past two years, Brazil has partnered with the United States to provide pre-deployment training to a Malawi Defense Force battalion deployed to peacekeeping operations in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Their trainers enhanced pre-deployment training and improved Malawi’s performance in the mission.
• In 2023, Brazil chaired the Latin American Association of Peacekeeping Operations Training Centers (ALCOPAZ). Under Brazil’s leadership, ALCOPAZ developed an Environmental Management in Peace Operations course and delivered it regionally in September.

Partnership for transatlantic cooperation

• Brazil is an active member and active voice in the Partnership for Transatlantic Cooperation, a White House initiative launched on September 18, 2023. Our partnership of 38 countries allows Atlantic states to work together on common challenges to advance peaceful, stable, prosperous and open nations. , promoting healthy, sustainable, and resilient Atlantic resources for a safe and cooperative Atlantic region.