Address by Minister Mauro Vieira at the opening of the GCC-Brazil Joint Ministerial Meeting for Strategic Dialogue - Riyadh, September 9, 2024

Your Excellencies,

It is an honor for me to take part in this first GCC-Brazil Joint Ministerial Meeting for Strategic Dialogue.

This special occasion represents an important step to bring closer together not only Brazil and the GCC, but also Brazil and the GCC countries.

The meeting takes place at an auspicious time, when we are also celebrating the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Brazil and four of the six GCC member countries: Bahrain, Oman, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates. With Saudi Arabia and Kuwait, we established diplomatic relations in 1968, which reflects well a deep and enduring friendship.

Brazil’s engagement with the Middle East dates back to the nineteenth century. In 1876, Emperor Dom Pedro II of Brazil made the first trip to the region at the highest level, laying the groundwork for a lasting bond.

This seminal visit paved the way for migration to Brazil of hundreds of thousands of people, mainly from Lebanon and Syria.

Today, millions of Brazilians of Arab descent contribute to the development of our national society in countless ways, leaving Brazil with a rich legacy of a vibrant spirit that influences our culture, cuisine, arts, and sciences. This enduring historical tie has made the Middle East and the Arab World a natural partner for Brazil.

Recognizing this strategic bond, President Lula has long recognized the strategic importance of the Middle East, as reflected by his initiative, in 2005, to convene the first South America-Arab Countries Summit (ASPA). This milestone reflected his vision for a more multipolar world and a commitment to expanding Brazil’s international partnerships.

Last year alone, our agendas with GCC countries have seen remarkable progress.

President Lula’s visits to the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar demonstrate the depth and the value of our relations. This political signal, alongside a framework of agreements and regular institutional dialogue, have strengthened the collaboration between Brazil and the GCC member states.

We believe there is much more we can achieve together.

Brazil is committed to expanding our cooperation across all sectors.

We want to raise and diversify our trade, which already shows significant complementarity.

Brazil is a key supplier of agricultural products and foodstuffs vital to the Gulf countries’, while we rely on essential inputs from the region, including oil products and fertilizers. However, there is a growing need to enhance and balance our trade by expanding into higher-value products and fostering a more diversified economic exchange that benefits both regions more broadly.

Beyond trade, we see immense potential for expanding investments. In this sector, the landscape in Brazil is evolving, particularly in infrastructure, industrial plants, and green economy. We encourage companies and investment funds from GCC member states to explore these emerging opportunities, especially in green energy and other sustainable sectors, where collaboration can drive mutual growth and innovation.

In view of our joint potential, Brazil and the GCC will soon structure an institutional dialogue.

We intend to sign a MoU establishing a political consultations mechanism, coupled with the adoption of a 2024-28 Plan of Action.

This will enable us to improve our coordination and to hold more regular meetings covering all identified priorities in our bilateral agenda, such as security, trade, investments, culture, health and education, agriculture, and sustainable development.

Also under this mechanism, Brazil and the GCC will be able to deepen discussions and exchanges on international affairs, aimed at contributing to peace, security and stability in the Middle East and beyond.

Brazil remains deeply troubled by the ongoing conflict in Gaza. Eleven months of relentless violence have brought nothing but immense humanitarian suffering and widespread devastation. This senseless bloodshed must end immediately. The situation in Gaza has become intolerable, constituting a form of collective punishment that the international community can no longer ignore. We must unite in our call for justice, peace, and the protection of innocent lives.

Brazil remains supportive of a two-State solution, with an independent and viable State of Palestine living side by side with Israel, in peace and security, within the 1967 borders, which includes the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, with East Jerusalem as its capital.

This objective is in alignment with the Arab Peace Initiative, adopted at the Beirut Summit of the League of Arab States in 2002 with the fundamental support of GCC member countries.

The partnership Brazil envisions with the GCC includes, besides the reinforcement of bilateral ties, a contribution to a more peaceful, prosperous, and interconnected world.

The urgent need of the reform of the global governance is one of the priorities on the agenda of Brazil's G20 presidency, as reflected in the Call to Action that we are proposing to all UN Member States. We urge the support of all members of the GCC for this initiative.

Let’s seize this moment to strengthen our cooperation, broaden our partnerships, and build a future of shared prosperity.

Thank you.