Address by Minister Mauro Vieira at the Celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia - July 24, 2026

Excellencies,

Ladies and gentlemen,

It is a great honor for Brazil to join this celebration of the fiftieth anniversary of the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia.

For five decades, the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation has stood as a remarkable example of how nations can build peace, trust and prosperity through dialogue and cooperation. The principles enshrined in the Treaty have a remarkable coincidence with the foundations of the Brazilian foreign policy.

Brazil is proud to be the first Latin American country to have acceded to the Treaty, a move that reflected both our interest in strengthening ties with Southeast Asia and our clear commitment to building an international order that is based on dialogue, mutual respect and cooperation for development.

At a time when geopolitical tensions are high, the principles enshrined in the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation offer an enduring source of guidance and inspiration.

Our world faces today the highest number of conflicts since World War II. Geopolitical polarization and strategic competition reduce the space for dialogue and diplomacy.

To escape the logic of violence and competition at the international sphere, we need to invest in conflict prevention, including early warning mechanisms, preventive diplomacy and mediation. These tools are among the most cost-effective ways to solve differences among countries while saving lives and protecting infrastructure.

Conflict prevention is also closely linked to sustainable development and poverty eradication. The protection of economic, human, political, and social rights are essential to preventing conflicts; conversely, the maintenance of peace and stability is a condition for sustainable development.

Brazil's position in defense of peace dates back to the consolidation of our borders – all of which were negotiated through diplomacy - and is enshrined in our Constitution.

Recently, in 2023, Brazil acted as facilitator between Venezuela and Guyana, contributing to the "Argyle Declaration for Dialogue and Peace". Brazil has also engaged actively in support of peace in Ukraine: in 2024, jointly with China, we launched, in New York, the "Group of Friends for Peace", bringing together countries of the Global South willing to contribute to ending that conflict.

Currently, we are focusing on developing capabilities in mediation, including through strengthening contacts with academia and developing initiatives with partner countries.

Our response to global challenges must be collective, inclusive and based on dialogue. In this regard, Brazil attaches particular value to the important role played by ASEAN in promoting peace, stability and prosperity in Southeast Asia.

Brazil views ASEAN as an indispensable partner and a bridge between regions and peoples. Both our regions could benefit from deeper knowledge of each other’s experiences in conflict prevention and mediation.

The celebration of this anniversary is an opportunity to renew our collective commitment to the values that unite us and to the multilateral institutions that help to sustain peace and foster development.

Please allow me to extend our warm congratulations on this historic milestone and reaffirm our full support to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation and the principles it embodies.

May the next fifty years continue to be guided by friendship, dialogue and mutual respect.

Thank you.