Russia and Brazil had established diplomatic relations October 3, 1828. Brazil was the only Latin American country to maintain trade relations with Russia in the late 19-th century. Brazil had suspended its diplomatic relations with Soviet Russia in October 1917; such relations were eventually restored April 2, 1945. Brazil became one of the world’s first countries to recognize the Russian Federation as an independent state (December 26, 1991).
Russian-Brazilian relations are marked by the positive development of top-level and high-level political contacts. In October 1994 President Fernando Henrique Cardoso of Brazil paid an unofficial visit to Moscow.
In October 1995 the Presidents of Russia and Brazil held their working meeting in New York during the celebration of the UN’s 50th anniversary. It was decided to establish a high-level Russian-Brazilian cooperation commission under the supervision of the Russian Federation’s Prime Minister and the Vice-President of the Federative Republic of Brazil.
President Fernando Henrique Cardoso of Brazil paid an official visit to Russia January 13–16, 2002, contributing greatly to enhancing bilateral ties. President Vladimir Putin of the Russian Federation negotiated with President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva within the framework of the G-8 group in Evian June 1, 2003 and during the 58-th UN General Assembly in New York September 24, 2003. Both heads of state voiced their mutual striving toward more profound privileged dialogue between national leaderships.
Vice-President Marco Maciel of Brazil visited Moscow in June 2000, with the afore-said high-level cooperation commission holding its first session back then. Both countries signed a basic treaty on partnership relations, as well as the “Russia-Brazil” joint action plan, which formalized specific bilateral-cooperation aspects.
On December 12–13, 2001 the Prime Minister of the Russian Federation paid his first-ever visit to Brazil, meeting President Fernando Henrique Cardoso during that visit. The high-level cooperation commission held its second session during the visit, as well. Cooperation agreements in such areas as competitive policy, tourism, mutual assistance in preventing, investigating and thwarting customs violations, inter-bank cooperation, as well as a civilian nuclear power-industry program for the 2001–2003 period, were inked, after the talks wound up.
On October 12, 2004 Moscow hosted the third session of the Russian-Brazilian high-level cooperation commission, which became an important stage in preparing for the Russian head of state’s first-ever Brazilian visit.
Brazil is Russia’s largest regional trade partner. The Russian-Brazilian trade turnover exceeded the $2-billion mark last year, totalling $1.74 billion throughout the January-September 2004 period. Russian exports ($555 million) continued to increase more quickly than Brazilian exports, with Russia nonetheless chalking up a negative foreign-trade balance; that negative balance continued to increase, totalling $945 million by late 2003. Russian exports soared by 67 percent over the January-September 2004 period, totalling $575 million. Russia mostly exports raw materials and semi-finished products, i.e. chemicals, metals, metalware and minerals. By the way, fertilizer accounts for 75 percent of all Russian exports to Brazil.
Brazilian exports to Russia stood at $1.5 billion last year, totalling $1.16 billion over the January-September 2004 period. Pork became the main Brazilian export item this year; add to this unrefined sugar to the tune of $298 million over the January-September 2004 period; however, such imports plunged by 40 percent throughout this time period. Meanwhile pork, poultry and tobacco deliveries increased considerably.
Brazil’s Defense Minister Geraldo Quintao visited Moscow in April 2002.
Russian Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov paid his first-ever official visit to Brazil in October 2003.
Brazil’s Defense Minister Jose Viegas visited Moscow December 3–4, 2003.
Russian-Brazilian culture ties develop in accordance with the bilateral culture-cooperation agreement. A program of culture, education and sports exchanges for the 2002–2003 period was signed during President Cardoso’s Moscow visit in January 2002. A similar program for the 2002–2005 period is now being readied for signing.