Brazil has decided not to join China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), marking it as the second BRICS country, after India, to opt out.
President Lula da Silva’s administration seeks alternative ways to work with Chinese investors without formally joining BRI, as confirmed by Celso Amorim, special presidential adviser for international affairs, PTI reported.
Amorim explained that Brazil aims to strengthen ties with China by creating synergy between Brazilian infrastructure projects and Chinese investments, while maintaining independence from BRI’s framework. He noted that Brazil’s priority is to define its own projects rather than formally commit to China’s initiative.
The decision disrupts China’s plans, as Chinese President Xi Jinping had intended Brazil’s BRI entry to be a highlight of his upcoming visit to Brasilia on November 20.
Recent opposition from Brazil’s economy and foreign affairs ministries further underscores Brazil’s reluctance to align with the initiative, particularly given concerns that BRI offers minimal immediate benefits and could complicate relations with a potential Trump-led US administration.
Amorim and Chief of Staff Rui Costa recently traveled to Beijing but returned unimpressed by China’s offers.
The government’s stance comes amid broader concerns voiced by India and other countries over BRI’s financial risks and the impact on sovereignty, with India especially critical of projects like the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) that runs through disputed territory in Kashmir.
In response to U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai’s suggestion that Brazil carefully consider BRI’s risks, China’s Global Times criticised her remarks as “disrespectful,” affirming that Brazil and China’s cooperation should proceed without interference.
The editorial also argued that the US seeks to curb Chinese influence in Latin America but asserted that China-Brazil cooperation aligns with the Global South’s goals for a fairer global economic order.
