Japan and Brazil have taken a significant step in advancing their bilateral relations with the convening of the first Foreign Affairs and Defence Dialogue, held on August 18 in Brasília, capital of the Federative Republic of Brazil.
The dialogue brought together senior officials from both nations. On the Japanese side, opening remarks were delivered by Parliamentary Vice-Minister of Defence Kobayashi Kazuo, with participation from Noguchi Yasushi, Director-General of the Latin American and Caribbean Bureau at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Terada Hiroyuki, Director of the Indo-Pacific Cooperation Planning Office at the Ministry of Defence, among others.
Representing Brazil were Ambassador Carlos Márcio Bicalho Cozendey, Secretary of Multilateral Political Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Paulo César Bittencourt Ferreira, Chief of Strategic Affairs of the Joint Chiefs of Staff of the Armed Forces at the Ministry of Defence, alongside other senior officials.
The dialogue was convened under the framework of the “Strategic and Global Partnership Action Plan Japan-Brazil (2025–2030),” announced during President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva’s state visit to Japan in March this year.
Discussions covered a wide spectrum of issues, ranging from regional and international security developments to avenues for practical defence cooperation. Both delegations affirmed their commitment to deepening collaboration in multilateral forums, strengthening defence exchanges, and promoting stability and prosperity across their respective regions.
The meeting concluded with a reaffirmation that Japan and Brazil will continue to advance cooperation under the banner of their Strategic and Global Partnership, reflecting the growing importance of the Asia–Latin America connection in shaping global security and development agendas.
Story: Lawal Mohammed
