How India-Brazil defence partnership has deepened under PM Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s five-nation tour continues.

Modi is in Brazil today (July 6) where he will attend the Brics Summit. Modi is also set to meet President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva on Tuesday  (July 8).

All eyes will be on the two men, who will likely discuss deepening cooperation on a wide-range of issues including energy and defence.

Modi’s five-nation trip, which began in Ghana on July 2, will wrap up in Namibia on July 10.

Modi’s five-nation tour, his longest diplomatic foray in nearly a decade, will see him visit Ghana, Trinidad and Tobago, Argentina, Brazil, and Namibia.

But what do we know about the lesser-known but crucial strategic relationship with Brazil?

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How has the defence relationship between India and Brazil deepened in the Modi years?

Let’s take a closer look:

India-Brazil defence relationship

India and Brazil established diplomatic relations in 1948. The two countries originally signed a defence agreement in 2003. The relationship was elevated to that of a strategic partnership since 2006.

The countries also established the Joint Defence Committee (JDC) as a mechanism to increase cooperation.

During the Modi years, meetings of the JDC have been held regularly. In all, seven such meetings have been held since its inception – the last such gathering in 2021.

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Meanwhile, high-level defence delegations have visited each other in 2022, 2023 and 2024. They have also established several mechanisms to improve bilateral relations. This includes Joint Commission Meeting (Foreign Minister level), Strategic Dialogue (NSA), Foreign Office Consultations (Secretary), and  Joint Defence Commission. The 2nd Foreign Office Consultation (FOC) was held in Brasilia in June 2023.

Last year, the 2+2 political-military dialogue held its first meeting.

India and Brazil have seen visits of over a dozen high-level and defence delegations. This includes high-level defence officials from both sides, such as India’s Chief of Air Staff visiting Brazil and Brazil’s Air Force Commander, Lieutenant Brigadier Marcelo Kanitz, coming to India.

In August, Brazilian Navy Commander, Admiral Marcos Sampaio Olsen, made a five-day official visit to India.

India-Brazil potential for military platforms

The two countries have much to gain by cooperating when it comes to developing military platforms.

Brazil’s defence budget in 2024 was $25 billion. It has the world’s 11th-largest army.

India, meanwhile, has a defence budget of $74 billion. It has the world’s second-largest standing army.

India’s defence exports surged to $2.76 billion in 2025. This was a 12 per cent increase over the previous year. In 2013-2014, defence exports were at Rs 686 crore. That’s a massive 34-fold increase. The country is aiming to increase its defence exports to 5.84 billion (Rs 50,000 crore) by 2029.

Brazil has expressed interest in purchasing several defence items from India. This includes the Akash air defence system, a medium-range, surface-to-air missile system developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation, which displayed an outstanding performance during Operation Sindoor, India’s Scorpene Class submarines and Garuda artillery guns.

P Kumaran, Secretary (East) of India’s Ministry of External Affairs, P Kumaran, said the defence system would be discussed during Modi’s trip.

“There’s going to be talk on defence cooperation, avenues for joint research, and training,” Kumaran said. “They (the Brazilian government) are interested in secure communications systems on the battlefield, offshore patrol vessels, partnership for maintaining their Scorpene-class submarines, Akash air defence system, coastal surveillance system and Garuda artillery guns,” Kumaran added.

An MoU for Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL) to maintain the submarines could be on the agenda.

“They are also interested in the Akash Air Defence system, coastal surveillance systems, and Garuda artillery guns. They are also interested in manufacturing defence industries in a joint venture with us and joint R&D and co-development systems,” he added.

Brazil could also buy Offshore Patrol Vessels from MDL.

Brazil has also displayed interest in purchasing India’s Tejas Light Combat Aircraft.

“According to our rules, we should have not less than two and not more than three kinds of fighter aircraft. Currently, we have the F-5 and the Gripen, but after 2030, we will need maybe two more kinds as the F-5 goes. So, while the Gripen remains, the Tejas is one of the options for our second or third fighter plane,” Damasceno was quoted as saying.

Brazil is also looking at Indian helicopters and drones – the latter of which could involve a transfer of technology.

“We have seven squadrons of 12 helicopters each, and we are looking for more, perhaps 24 new choppers,” Damasceno added. “We will consider Indian helicopters,” he added.

The next-generation BrahMos supersonic missile, jointly developed by India and Russia, is also on Brazil’s radar.

A senior defence official told Financial Express, “For Brazil, the BrahMos-NG can be a suitable choice for their new Gripen aircraft. The new system is designed for a wide range of fighter aircraft platforms with best-in-class specifications.”

Kumaran also said the countries could launch a joint venture through Brazil’s aerospace firm Embraer.

The firm has designed the C-390 Millennium, a multi-role transport aircraft, which India could look to acquire as part of its own efforts to upgrade the Indian Air Force.

There are reports that Embraer could join hands with Mahindra to jointly manufacture the C-390 in India.

“Compared with the C-130 (an American plane noted for its ruggedness), the C-390 is faster and carries at least as much load. We are offering this to India, and the MOUs with Mahindra are already done. So far, its serviceability level is over 97 per cent,” Damasceno added. “The Indian Air Force does need medium transport aircraft,” he added.

Brazilian firms Companhia Brasileira de Cartuchos (CBC) and Taurus Armas are already in joint ventures with Indian firms when it comes to small arms and ammunition production.

What do experts say?

They say Modi’s visit is just the latest sign of deep trust between the two democratic powers.

A piece in Financial Express stated that Brazil is currently trying to reinvent its defence strategy for the modern age, while seeking stronger strategic alliances.

India, they say, is a critical partner to its growing defence ambitions.

India’s ambassador Reddy was quoted as saying, “Defence cooperation has become a cornerstone of our strategic relationship.”

Major-Brigadier Rui Chagas Mesquita, Secretary of Brazilian Defence Products, was quoted as saying by EurAsia Times, “When we look at India, we seek to work together so that we can also jointly develop finished products and use Brazil as a hub for selling these commonly developed products in the Latin American market.”

With inputs from agencies