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Dr. S. Jaishankar, India’s External Affairs Minister (EAM), undertook an official visit to Paraguay, Argentina, and Brazil from August 22-27, 2022, marking the EAM’s first visit to the 3 Latin American countries.
Significance
The visit of the EAM to these 3 countries will provide an opportunity to form high-level interactions with India’s partners in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC), explore new areas of collaboration in the post-pandemic era, and exchange views on bilateral and international concerns.
Visit of EAM Dr. S. Jaishankar to the Republic of Paraguay – August 21-22, 2022
On August 21-22, 2022, Dr. S. Jaishankar, India’s EAM, paid an official visit to the Republic of Paraguay, and jointly inaugurated the newly opened Indian Embassy in Asuncion, Paraguay’s capital, with Julio Cesar Arriola, Foreign Minister of the Republic of Paraguay.
- This was the first visit by an Indian Foreign Minister to the Republic of Paraguay, and it coincided with the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two nations.
Highlights
i.Dr. S. Jaishankar unveiled a bust of Mahatma Gandhi on the Asuncion waterfront upon his arrival in Paraguay.
ii.He paid tribute in the National Pantheon of Heroes, remembering the sacrifices of Paraguayan national heroes.
iii.He also visited the historic Casa de la Independencia, which was the origin of the more than 200-year-old Paraguayan independence movement.
iv.At the presidential palace, EAM had a meeting with H. E. Mr. Mario Abdo Benitez, President of the Republic of Paraguay.
v.In a meeting with Mr. Julio Cesar Arriola, the EAM also decided to expand their collaboration in a number of sectors, including trade and commerce, agriculture, pharmaceuticals, traditional medicines, technical and development cooperation, solar energy, and MERCOSUR (is a South American trade bloc).
Visit of EAM Dr. S. Jaishankar to Brazil – August 24, 2022
On August 24, 2022, Dr. S. Jaishankar, India’s EAM, and Mr. Carlos Alberto Franco França, Brazil’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, co-chaired the 8th Brazil-India Joint Commission Meeting (JCM) 2022 in Brasilia, Brazil’s capital. Dr. Jaishankar is on a six-day official visit to Latin America.
Relationship between India & Brazil
i.The Strategic Partnership between India & Brazil was formed in 2006 and is based on shared democratic principles, a similar global vision, and a dedication to promote economic growth with social inclusion and sustainable development for the welfare of their people.
ii.The two nations also work closely together in multilateral organisations like the United Nations (UN) and plurilateral fora like the Group of Twenty (G20), BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China & South Africa), IBSA (India, Brazil & South Africa), BASIC (Brazil, South Africa, India & China) and G4 (Brazil, Germany, India, & Japan).
iii.The year 2023 will mark 75 years since India and Brazil established diplomatic relations.
Areas of Cooperation
i.India became Brazil’s 5th-largest trading partner as the total bilateral trade between two countries climbed by 63.5% to USD 11.53 billion in 2021.
ii.The Ministers underlined the importance of hosting the 6th Meeting of the India-Brazil Trade Monitoring Mechanism (TMM) in Brasilia and pledged support for an early expansion of the scope of the India-MERCOSUR Preferential Trade Agreement.
iii.Both Ministers emphasized the value of the G20 and made a commitment to close coordination during India’s (2023) and Brazil’s (2024) respective G20 presidencies.
iv.The Brazilian Post issued a special commemorative stamp on this occasion to celebrate the 75th anniversary of India’s independence.
Click Here to Read More About the Joint Press Release on the 8th Brazil-India Joint Commission Meeting
Visit of EAM Dr. S. Jaishankar to Argentina – August 26, 2022
On August 25-26, 2022, Dr. S. Jaishankar, India’s EAM, made an official visit to the Republic of Argentina, at the invitation of Mr. Santiago Cafiero, Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Trade, and Worship (FM), Argentina.
- On August 26, 2022, the two Ministers presided over a Joint Commission Meeting (JCM) between the Republic of India and Republic of Argentina at San Martin Palace in Buenos Aires, the capital of Argentina.
Highlights
i.EAM Jaishankar’s visit was the first ministerial visit from India since the current Argentine government assumed office in 2019, as well as the first visit by India’s EAM to Argentina since 2013.
ii.EAM met with H.E. Dr. Alberto Fernandez, President of the Republic of Argentina, during the visit.
Relationship between India & Argentina
i.India and Argentina established diplomatic relations in 1949 and upgraded their relationship to Strategic Partner status in 2019.
- The shared values and principles of democracy, freedom, the rule of law, respect for human rights, and state territorial integrity served as the foundation for this alliance.
ii.Argentina’s first ministerial visit to India under President Fernandez’s administration was made by FM Cafiero in April 2022.
Areas of Cooperation
i.India became Argentina’s 4th -largest trading partner in 2021 as their bilateral trade increased to an unprecedented USD 5.7 billion.
ii.In accordance with the terms of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Defence Cooperation signed in 2019, India and Argentina decided to intensify their defence sector cooperation.
iii.Under the Agreement signed in 2010 between the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) of India and the National Atomic Energy Commission of Argentina (CNEA), as well as the Memorandum of Understanding signed in 2019 between the Global Centre for Nuclear Energy Partnership, under DAE, and CNEA, it was decided to look into opportunities for deeper cooperation for peaceful uses of nuclear energy.
iv.The Argentine company INVAP is establishing a Molybdenum-99 (Mo-99) facility in Mumbai.
Click Here to Read More About the Joint Press Statement Following the Joint Commission Meeting Between India & Argentina
Recent Related News:
On June 16-17, 2022, India hosted the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Foreign Ministers and Secretary General for a 2-day Special ASEAN-India Foreign Ministers’ Meeting (SAIFMM) 2022 for the first time in New Delhi, Delhi, to commemorate 30 years of ASEAN-India Dialogue Relations and the 10th anniversary of India-ASEAN Strategic Partnership. Dr. S. Jaishankar, India’s External Affairs Minister (EAM), and Dr. Vivian Balakrishnan, Singapore’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, co-chaired the SAIFMM.
About Republic of Paraguay:
President – Mario Abdo Benitez
Capital – Asuncion
Currency – Paraguayan Guaraní (PYG)
About Brazil:
President – Jair Bolsonaro
Capital – Brasilia
Currency – Brazilian Real (BRL)
About Republic of Argentina:
President – Alberto Fernandez
Capital – Buenos Aires
Currency – Argentine Peso (ARS)
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