Brazil’s President, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, has called for deeper Brazil–South Africa defence cooperation during a state visit in Brasília by South African President, Cyril Ramaphosa.
Speaking at a joint press conference, Lula said countries in the Global South must strengthen their own defence capabilities rather than relying heavily on foreign arms suppliers. He urged both nations to combine industrial and technological capacity to develop domestic weapons systems.
Ramaphosa acknowledged that Brazil’s defence and aviation industries are more advanced but said cooperation could enable knowledge exchange and joint development.
Key developments
• Brazil and South Africa exploring joint defence manufacturing and technology projects.
• Defence ministers expected to work toward a formal cooperation agreement.
• Lula framed cooperation as deterrence, emphasising that South America remains a largely peaceful region.
• Discussions occurred amid rising geopolitical tensions and growing calls for strategic autonomy in the Global South.
Both countries are members of BRICS, which increasingly promotes cooperation in trade, development, and security.
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