UPDATED: Egypt, Brazil elevate relations to strategic partnership
Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi and his Brazilian counterpart Lula da Silva have signed a joint statement to elevate relations between their countries to a strategic partnership, according to the Egyptian presidency.
The announcement was made following a meeting held on Monday in Rio de Janeiro on the sidelines of the G20 Summit.
According to the statement, the strategic partnership underscores both nations’ commitment to the principles of the UN Charter and rules of international law.
It aims to enhance dialogue and understanding by intensifying diplomatic relations and facilitating the exchange of visits between high-level officials from both sides.
Moreover, the statement said it would address both countries' social and economic development needs and focus on achieving mutual benefit.
Additionally, it aims to enhance consultations and coordination on issues within the bilateral agenda and regional and multilateral matters of common interest, based on the two nations' shared foreign policy objectives.
The partnership also advocates for promoting multilateralism and reforming international institutions, particularly the global financial architecture and the UN, especially its Security Council.
The statement added that the goal is to make these institutions more representative, legitimate, and effective while ensuring they reflect the realities of the 21st century.
Furthermore, it will intensify cooperation in various fields, including politics, diplomacy, peace, security, defence, economy, trade, investment, environment, agriculture, science, education, development, culture, sports, and tourism.
According to the statement, an action plan will be developed under the agreement through diplomatic channels, identifying the initiatives necessary for implementing this strategic partnership.
Egypt and Brazil have long-standing diplomatic relations dating back to 1924. In recent months, both countries have carried out several activities commemorating the centenary of diplomatic relations.
Since 2009, the two countries have maintained a strategic dialogue mechanism, and in 2010, Egypt signed a free trade agreement with MERCOSUR.
Egypt is Brazil's second-largest trading partner in Africa, with a bilateral exchange of $3.4 billion in 2023.
Both countries are also partners in the BRICS group, which Egypt officially joined in January. The move is expected to increase bilateral trade exchange in the near future.
Prioritizing developing countries
According to a statement, El-Sisi praised Brazil's outstanding organization of the summit, especially placing developing nations' concerns at the top of the agenda, commending the launch of the Global Alliance Against Hunger and Poverty.
This initiative aims to mobilize funding and expertise to implement effective public policies and social technologies to reduce hunger and poverty globally.
For his part, President Da Silva expressed appreciation for El-Sisi's participation in the summit and Egypt's active involvement in the G20 meetings over the year, which he said supported the needs and priorities of developing countries.
Stance toward the Palestinian cause
President El-Sisi also highlighted Cairo's efforts to restore stability in the Middle East and achieve an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and Lebanon.
Moreover, he commended Brazil's support for the Palestinian cause.
On the other side, Da Silva expressed his country's deep appreciation for Egypt's long-standing role in supporting the Palestinian people and their rights.
Both leaders concurred on the crucial need to implement the two-state solution and expand international recognition of Palestine, firmly rejecting any efforts to liquidate the Palestinian cause.
Guest nation
Egypt, a non-G20 member, has participated in the group’s meetings as a guest nation for the fourth time.
The country previously attended under the Chinese, Japanese, and Indian presidencies in 2016, 2019, and 2023, respectively.
The G20 is an international forum of the world’s largest economies, representing approximately 80 percent of global GDP and 75 percent of international trade.
The summit primarily focuses on tackling major global economic challenges through cooperation and policy coordination.
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