Modi Gets Brazil’s Top Honour, But Loses Missile Deal To Italy – What Went Wrong?

New Delhi: Brazil decided to move away from ongoing negotiations to buy India’s Akash Air defense missile system. Once a promising once, the negotiations stopped. Instead, the authorities in Brasilia focus on Italy’s improved modular air defense solution (EMADS). Deccan Herald report.

Development, Narendra Modi in a historical state visit to Brazil, a first by an Indian Prime Minister in 57 years, held high -level discussions with President Luiz Inacio Lula Da Silva. The two leaders squeezed the ambitious targets, including pushing the bilateral trade in 2024-25 to 20 billion dollars from 12.2 billion dollars to 2030.

Although he agreed to deepen the defense and security ties, the Brazilian government apparently decided to follow other missile systems. The EMADLAR from Italy now seems to be Lula’s choice.

Nevertheless, the optics remained hot. After the meeting, Prime Minister Modi said, “Growing defense cooperation of India and Brazil reflects deep mutual trust. Our cooperation as two great democracy is important not only for the global south, but also for humanity.” He said.

“In a world that has gone through tension and uncertainty, India-Brazilian partnership is a pillar of stability and balance.”

During the state ceremony, President Lula honored the big side of the South Cross National Order, the highest civilian award in Brazil. Emphasized the commitment to establish stronger industrial defense bonds between the two countries.

For now, Brazil may be far from the Akash missile system, but is still interested in other Indian defense products. Negotiations on India’s coastal surveillance system and Garuda artillery weapon remain active.

Prime Minister Modi stressed that the two countries shared an open and irreconcilable stance on global terrorism. “India and Brazil merged in this fight. Zero tolerance and zero double standards. We are strongly against terrorism and supporters.”

The Akash agreement with the shelf may be a mishap, but the wider relationship between Brazil and India continues to progress – the defense is still on the table, albeit under new conditions.