Lula signs new agreements with Caribbean: "New stage of integration, prosperity."

Efforts to strengthen cooperation between Brazil and the Caribbean countries advanced significantly with the Brazil-Caribbean Summit, held this Friday, June 13, in Brasília. The meeting resulted in the signing of a series of agreements and memoranda of understanding that expand regional integration and deepen partnerships in strategic areas, including social development, connectivity, exchange of technical knowledge, public management, and science and technology.

I am excited about the results we reached and the work ahead. Brazil and the Caribbean have opened a new stage of integration, sustainable development, and prosperity for our peoples.”
LUIZ INÁCIO LULA DA SILVA
President of the Republic of Brazil

"I am excited about the results we reached and the work ahead. Brazil and the Caribbean have opened a new stage of integration, sustainable development, and prosperity for our peoples," declared President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.

The acts signed during the Summit include an Agreement for Technical Cooperation with the Bahamas, which establishes the foundations for the development of joint programs and projects and guides the implementation of cooperation between the two countries in several areas. Agreements for air services were signed with Barbados and Suriname to provide increased legal security for the operations between the countries, aiming to boost trade, tourism, and regional integration.

In the area of diplomatic training, a memorandum of understanding was signed between Brazil’s Rio Branco Institute (IRBr) and the Dominican Republic’s Institute of Higher Education for Diplomatic and Consular Training (INESDYC). The document lays out the exchange of both students and good practices between the two institutions. Another memorandum signed with the Dominican Republic, this time in the area of public management, establishes cooperation mechanisms to improve public services. The instrument calls for the exchange of knowledge and experiences with a focus on people management, institutional innovation, and strengthening public administration.

Brazil and Cuba formalized a memorandum of understanding between Brazil’s National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq) and Cuba’s Ministry of Science, Technology, and Environment. This partnership aims to support scientific research and studies developed by institutions of both countries, fostering academic and technological cooperation.

ALLIANCE — Barbados, Cuba, Saint Lucia, and the Caribbean Development Bank announced their commitment to the Global Alliance against Hunger and Poverty during the Summit. This Brazilian initiative now numbers 101 countries, from a total of 192 members, also including international organizations, philanthropic institutions, and civil society. Haiti’s Action Plan for the accelerated implementation of the Global Alliance was presented, making it the first country that is apt to receive financial resources and technical cooperation in the context of this partnership mechanism.

During the press conference, the Prime Minister of Barbados and CARICOM President, Mia Mottley, highlighted the importance of international solidarity in the efforts to combat hunger and poverty. She praised Brazil’s leadership and President Lula’s commitment to social inclusion policies. Mottley also underscored the inspiring role of Brazilian income transfer policies, among others, and defended the centrality of compassion in economic decisions.

"I would like to congratulate you, Mr. President, not only for your role ahead of the Brazilian Government, but for your longstanding trajectory dedicated to ensuring that those who did not have access to opportunities can be seen, have their humanity recognized, and be included as subjects of deliberate public policies," she said. "I can assure you that the Caribbean civilization may not be the wealthiest in the world, but we have been blessed with a level of humanity that makes us understand what is good and what is bad, which makes us defend the good in every occasion when we have the opportunity to do so," Mia Mottley said.

BILATERAL RELATIONS — The Caribbean is a region with growing importance for Brazilian foreign policy. The Caribbean countries share with Brazil challenges and priorities in areas such as food security, environment, energy, and sustainable development. Despite its potential, trade exchange between Brazil and the Caribbean countries is still at a modest level, concentrating on a small list of products such as processed foods (soybean, corn, meats), oil, machinery, chemical products, and fertilizers.

Brazil has been working to strengthen cooperation ties with the Caribbean, particularly through the Brazilian Cooperation Agency (Agência Brasileira de Cooperação/ABC), in areas such as health, agriculture, technical training, and civil defense. Initiatives for triangular cooperation are also being implemented with the support of international organizations.

TRADE — In 2024, the trade chain between Brazil and the Caribbean countries reached around USD 4 billion, with a significant surplus on the Brazilian side. There are opportunities to diversify and expand Brazilian exports, particularly of foods, medications, fuels, and manufactured goods.