Brazil–South Africa relations

Brazil-South Africa relations have traditionally been close. Brazil has provided military assistance to South Africa in the form of warfare training and logistics. Bilateral relations between the countries have recently increased, as a result of Brazil's new "South-South" foreign policy aimed to strengthen integration between the major powers of the developing world.

South Africa is part of the IBSA Dialogue Forum, alongside Brazil and India.

History

During the latter years of the apartheid era, South African companies made several investments in Brazil. However, while Brazil developed relations with the former Portuguese colonies of Africa, it didn't cultivate a strong relationship with the apartheid-era government, and instead developed ties with the allies of such anti-apartheid organizations such as ANC and SWAPO.

After South Africa held its first multiracial elections in 1994, then-Brazilian president Fernando Henrique Cardoso became the first Brazilian head of state to visit South Africa in 1996. Relations developed quickly between the two countries, especially after the election of Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva as president in 2002. Lula's government has developed strong ties with Thabo Mbeki's government in South Africa, particular in the areas of AIDS/HIV (a major problem in both countries), fair trade, reform in the United Nations Security Council, land reform, and other socio-economic issues.

References

ee also

*Foreign relations of Brazil
*Foreign relations of South Africa

External links

* [http://www.mre.gov.br/ingles/index.htm Ministry of Foreign Relations of Brazil]
* [http://www.dfa.gov.za Department of Foreign Affairs of South Africa]