Fri Nov 15 19:39:16 IST 2024: ## Brazil: A Strategic Ally or a Samba Partner? Europe Needs to Decide

**Brussels, Belgium** – The European Union is increasingly looking for partners as the global order fragments amid escalating US-China tensions, the rise of assertive middle powers, and growing scepticism towards the international rules-based system. Brazil, with its burgeoning economy, regional influence, and unique global vision, presents an opportunity for Europe to forge a strategic partnership. However, the EU-Brazil relationship is fraught with challenges, stemming from differing perspectives on the global order and specific policy issues.

**Brazil’s Global Vision:**

Brazil, under President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, seeks to navigate the shifting global landscape through a policy of “active non-alignment,” aiming to position itself as an autonomous actor and mediator in international disputes. While Brazil has long sought to counterbalance US influence in the Western Hemisphere, Lula’s government embraces a post-US global order, where the US plays a different role than leading the world. Brazil leverages its strengths, including its size, its growing economy, and its credibility on issues such as climate change, poverty, and peacekeeping, to exert influence on the world stage.

**Challenges for the EU:**

The EU-Brazil relationship faces significant hurdles, mainly stemming from Brazil’s foreign policy choices. The EU is often frustrated by Brazil’s close ties to BRICS, a bloc that challenges Western-centric multilateralism and favors multipolarity. Brazil’s peace diplomacy on Ukraine has also been met with criticism from Europe, who perceive Brazil’s approach as not sufficiently aligned with the international law-based order.

**A Path Forward:**

To build a successful partnership with Brazil, Europe must overcome these challenges. The report highlights the need for greater understanding between both sides, recognizing their respective structural differences and embracing a more nuanced approach. The EU should identify feasible areas for collaboration and concrete ways to strengthen the relationship, focusing on shared goals and values, such as combating climate change and reforming multilateral institutions.

**A More Realistic Approach:**

The report argues that Europe must move beyond rhetoric and finger-pointing, understanding the deeper reasons behind Brazil’s foreign policy stances. The authors suggest that instead of aiming for a perfectly aligned partnership, Europe should strive to cultivate a strategic ally, recognizing that Brazil will inevitably pursue its own interests in the global arena. This calls for greater engagement with Brazilian decision-makers, respecting their global aspirations and acknowledging the limitations of Brazil’s international influence.

**The Need for a Samba:**

Ultimately, the report concludes that if Europe wants to dance with Brazil, it will need to learn how to samba. This implies understanding Brazil’s cultural and political nuances, recognizing its unique position in the world, and adapting its approach to engage more effectively with this important emerging power. The EU needs to acknowledge that Brazil has a strong voice in the global south and that its perspectives are valuable, even if they differ from those of the West.

This report, authored by senior analysts from the European Council on Foreign Relations, offers a valuable insight into the complex EU-Brazil relationship, highlighting both the challenges and opportunities for a more constructive partnership.

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