Barbados and Brazil have agreed to deepen their existing relationship.
This agreement was one of the main outcomes following a meeting held at Ilaro Court between Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Kerrie Symmonds and Brazil’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mauro Vieira, who is on the island for an official visit.
The two Foreign Ministers agreed that the in-person meeting was long overdue and were happy to finally engage each other on matters of mutual interest.
Minister Symmonds stated that Brazil is a “friend and important partner” for Barbados and that he wished to enhance their people-to-people engagement. He proposed that this process could begin with Brazil’s participation in the culture, diversity, and creativity festival CARIFESTA, which is being held in Barbados from August 22 to 31 this year.
Minister Vieira welcomed the invitation and concurred that people-to-people engagement should be enhanced. He discussed the possibility of a Portuguese language course, and for Barbadian officials to attend the Rio Branco Institute, which is a graduate school of International Relations and diplomatic academy located in Brasília.
Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley also joined the meeting, and the officials discussed a wide range of topics, including the upcoming Brazil-Caribbean Summit to be held in Brazil in June; food security matters; supply chain issues and the impacts of climate change.
Also discussed was the Brazil-led multilateral treaty initiative Global Alliance Against Hunger and Poverty; trade possibilities; the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP 30), which will be held in Brazil from November 10 to 21, 2025; an Air Services Agreement; tourism and health matters, specifically with regard to laboratories.
Barbados and Brazil established diplomatic ties in 1971.
