- UN Security Council Reform: Brazil advocates for expanding the Security Council’s permanent membership to include Latin America, Africa, and Asia, aiming to make the UN more inclusive and reflective of modern geopolitical realities.
- Global South Focus: During its G20 presidency, Brazil emphasizes issues like sustainable development, climate action, and poverty alleviation, representing the priorities of developing nations.
- Strategic Alliances: Brazil seeks deeper collaboration with India, enhancing trade and joint ventures in renewable energy, biofuels, and infrastructure, showcasing its role as a key Global South leader.
As Brazil assumes the G20 presidency in 2024, it seizes a historic opportunity to influence global governance reform. The current international system, designed post-World War II, struggles to address 21st-century challenges, including inequality, climate change, and geopolitical shifts. Brazil’s leadership underscores the necessity of building a more inclusive, representative, and equitable framework, reflecting the rise of emerging economies and developing nations.
A Call for United Nations Reform
Central to Brazil’s vision is the democratization of the United Nations (UN), particularly the Security Council. The existing structure, dominated by Western powers and a select few permanent members, fails to represent contemporary geopolitical realities. Brazil champions expanded membership, advocating for permanent Latin America, Africa, and Asia seats. These reforms aim to legitimize the UN’s resolutions and empower it to effectively address global issues such as climate change and international security.
Brazil also emphasizes overhauling the council’s operational patterns. Key priorities include revising veto provisions, redefining mandates, and promoting greater transparency and accountability. Through such reforms, Brazil seeks to align the UN’s decision-making processes with the principles of multilateralism and cooperation.
Highlighting the Global South’s Priorities
As a voice for the Global South, Brazil brings attention to issues often marginalized in global discourse. Social inclusion, sustainable development, and equitable economic policies are integral to its agenda. Brazil’s initiatives during its G20 presidency include enhancing food security, addressing poverty, and promoting renewable energy development. The Task Force for a Global Alliance Against Hunger and Poverty exemplifies its commitment to creating robust international cooperation in agriculture, biotechnology, and social welfare.
Climate change is another critical focus. Brazil advocates for accountability from developed nations for historical emissions and calls for increased investments in green technologies. Through initiatives such as promoting biofuels and sustainable aviation fuels, Brazil aims to foster global partnerships that balance environmental sustainability with economic growth.
Strengthening Brazil-India Relations
Brazil’s presidency provides a platform to deepen its strategic partnership with India, another prominent Global South leader. Aligning with India’s focus on green growth and inclusive development, Brazil supports joint ventures in biofuels, infrastructure, and lithium resources. Expanding bilateral trade and collaborating on initiatives like the India-MERCOSUR Preferential Trade Agreement exemplify this synergy. These efforts enhance both nations’ roles as key players in reshaping global governance.
Only if Brazil is willing to communicate credible lines of thinking, will it be able to join forces with other growing nations and institutional members who share similar values. This is because Brazil ought to be the one to initiate the established major trend. For strengthening Brazil-India relations during Brazil’s G20 presidency, Brazil adopted some major strategies that are friendly to India.
First, Brazil synchronizes its G20 work with India’s focus on inclusive and sustainable development, especially green economy and climate change. This alignment demonstrated joint ventures on biofuels and sustainable aviation fuels taking advantage of Brazilian ethanol production which is useful to India’s 20 percent ethanol blending by 2025. Furthermore, growing market access is necessary for Brazil to enhance bilateral trade where it can improve the Impact of the India-MERCOSUR Preferential Trade Agreement. This is the reason the trade has already reached USD 9.7 billion in 2024 and seeking to strengthen this will greatly yield positive results to the two economies.
In the same way, Brazil effectively participated in debates related to food security and lithium partnership to help India meet its burgeoning requirement for electric vehicle batteries backed by the South American nation’s massive lithium deposits. More so, by inviting Indian companies to invest in Infrastructure activities such as climate challenges in Brazil, Brazil has invited more economic cooperation from India. In these ways, Brazil has deepened its cooperation with India and both countries have become key powers in the Global South.
Addressing Geopolitical Challenges
The existing global governance system’s inadequacies are evident in its fragmented responses to pressing challenges. Brazil’s reform agenda includes restructuring institutions like the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank to promote inclusive policies and counter inequities. It also envisions a stronger General Assembly with greater influence on global politics.
However, Brazil’s reform push faces resistance, particularly from major powers wary of relinquishing their dominance. Geopolitical tensions, especially between the United States and China, further complicate efforts. Brazil’s success will hinge on its ability to build coalitions with like-minded nations and civil society actors to foster a unified vision for global reform.
Towards a More Inclusive Global Order
Brazil’s leadership of the G20 symbolizes a shift in global dynamics, challenging traditional hierarchies. By prioritizing the Global South’s concerns, advocating for UN reform, and promoting international collaboration, Brazil positions itself as a champion for equitable governance. Its efforts underscore the importance of adapting global institutions to meet today’s multifaceted challenges, ensuring a fair and just international system.
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Masha is pursuing an MA in International Relations at the London School of Economics and Political Science. Parag is pursuing his master’s at the Jindal School of International Affairs. Views expressed are the author’s own.
Balaji Subramanian 
Prajwal K M 
Dhruv Ashok