News Highlights
The Navies of India-Brazil, both of which operate the French Scorpene-class submarines, are exploring options for collaboration towards the maintenance of the diesel-electric attack submarines.
Key Takeaways
- The Brazilian delegation’s “extensive discussions” with their Indian counterparts during the two-day visit were centered on the “maintenance of submarines.”
- Four of the six Scorpene submarines that India contracted from France have already been deployed.
- While the final submarine was just deployed into the ocean and is anticipated to join the Navy by the middle of next year, the fifth submarine is currently in the advanced stages of sea testing.
- Additionally, the Brazilian Navy runs four Scorpene-class submarines and is developing a nuclear attack submarine (SSN) with French assistance.
- India, which formerly leased nuclear attack submarines from Russia, is currently building nuclear attack submarines on its own soil.
India-Brazil Relations
- Political Relations
- The cornerstone of India and Brazil’s bilateral relations is the frequent gathering of the two nations’ leaders, including at the summit level, during various multilateral fora like BRICS, IBSA, etc., and on the sidelines of other international fora.
- Economic relations
- In the entire LAC (Latin America and the Caribbean) region, Brazil has emerged as one of India’s most significant trading partners.
- By boosting commerce, India and Brazil devised an ambitious plan to grow their economies. They established a goal of USD 15 billion in bilateral trade by 2022.
- Defence cooperation
- In 2003, Brazil and India agreed to a bilateral “Defence Cooperation Agreement” that calls for collaboration on defence-related issues, particularly in the areas of R&D, acquisition, and logistical assistance.
- Bilateral investments
- Brazilian companies have made investments in India’s mining, energy, biofuels, footwear, and automobile industries, while Indian businesses have made investments in IT, pharmaceuticals, energy, agribusiness, mining, engineering, and autos.
- Cultural Relations
- India’s culture, religion, performing arts, and philosophy are extremely popular in Brazil.
- Bharatanatyam, along with Odissi, Kathak, and Kuchipudi, was the first classical Indian art form to be introduced to Brazil.
- A large number of people practise yoga and Ayurveda in Brazil.
Challenges of India-Brazil Relations
- A Complaint against India at the World Trade Organization
- Brazil has complained to the World Trade Organization about India’s subsidies to farmers of sugarcane.
- The leading producer and exporter of sugar, Brazil asserts that Indian subsidies are against the laws of international commerce.
- Inactive BRICS groupings
- Although BRICS as a whole has a great deal of potential to develop, it has also come under criticism for lacking a common vision.
- Deepening of Brazil-China relations.
- China is already Brazil’s most important trading partner. India finds it challenging to compete with China’s financial power.
Way forward
- Strengthening the groupings
- India and Brazil are able to develop strategies to address problems with the help of the IBSA and BRICS as significant venues.
- Social Security Agreement Operationalisation
- In order to facilitate corporate operations and promote the flow of investment, Brazil and India signed the Social Security Agreement (SSA) in March 2017. This agreement will permit investments in each other’s pension systems.
- Discuss common challenges.
- India and Brazil are both developing countries with comparable views on democracy, human rights, international law, and liberal strategy.
- Both nations have been dealing with similar problems, like the effects of climate change. Talk about common problems, and take action.
Pic Courtesy: New Indian Express
Content Source: The Hindu