Japan, Brazil leaders to boost strategic ties under new 5-year plan

Japan and Brazil on Wednesday adopted a five-year action plan to strengthen their strategic partnership amid rising geopolitical risks and trade tensions.

Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba and visiting Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva agreed at their meeting in Tokyo to hold reciprocal leader visits once every two years and to launch a new consultative framework for senior officials to discuss diplomatic and defense-related issues.

Japan hosted Lula as its first state guest in six years, highlighting the importance of Brazil as a partner that shares fundamental values such as democracy and the rule of law, as well as the need for multilateral cooperation in an increasingly divided world.

The two leaders decided to promote dialogue to ensure peace and international cooperation in their effort to cope with what they described as “the weakening of the multilateral system.”

Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba (R) and Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva shake hands before their talks in Tokyo on March 26, 2025. (Pool photo)(Kyodo)

The previous state guest received by Japan was U.S. President Donald Trump during his first term in 2019. His return to the White House earlier this year has posed challenges to free trade by imposing tariffs and to global efforts to address climate change.

“I hope to further strengthen our relationship with Brazil based on the action plan that covers a wide range of areas, such as diplomacy, security, trade, investment and climate change,” Ishiba said during a joint press appearance with Lula.

“Bilateral cooperation with Brazil is essential to lead the world mired in confrontations and divisions to global cooperation,” he said.

This year marks the 130th anniversary of diplomatic ties between Japan and Brazil. Brazil is a key player in the Global South and a member of the BRICS group of emerging powers, which also includes China and Russia.

The United States is a key trading partner for both Japan and Brazil.

Despite friction caused by their history and territorial issues, Japan views China as an important neighbor with close economic ties, while Brazil has been balancing its relationships with the United States, China and Russia.

Ishiba and Lula discussed the situation in Ukraine, the Middle East and East Asia. The prime minister was quoted by the Japanese government as saying during the summit that “unilateral attempts to change the status quo by force or coercion should not be tolerated anywhere in the world.”

Brazil is a major exporter of agricultural produce and minerals like iron ore to resource-scarce Japan, which mainly exports industrial products, including auto parts, to the South American country.

Prior to his visit, Lula’s office said the president would urge Japan to open its beef markets as Tokyo has strict restrictions due to concerns about foot-and-mouth disease.

As a next step toward opening Japan’s doors to Brazilian beef, Japan will soon send technical experts to carry out on-site inspections in Brazil, according to the two governments.

Ishiba said he agreed with Lula to deepen cooperation between Japan and the South American Mercosur trade bloc, which also includes Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay.

Energy cooperation was also on the agenda, as Brazil, which sources most of its energy from renewables, is set to host U.N. climate talks in November. COP30 comes after Trump’s announcement to once again withdraw the United States from the Paris climate accord aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

Japan and Brazil underscored the need for the “full and effective implementation” of the Paris agreement.

Lula is scheduled to conclude his four-day visit to Japan on Thursday, following an audience he and First Lady Janja Lula da Silva had with Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako on Tuesday.

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