Southern Africa
Ramaphosa and Lula Hold Talks as South Africa Seeks Stronger Brazil Ties
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa is wrapping up a two-day diplomatic visit to Brazil on March 10, aimed at strengthening trade ties and cooperation…
Brazil
Brazil, officially the Federative Republic of Brazil, is the largest country in South America and one of the world’s leading emerging economies. Its capital city is Brasília, while São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro are among its largest urban centers. Brazil is globally recognized for its football culture, Amazon rainforest, music, agriculture, and natural resources. The country plays a major role in global climate discussions, international trade, and regional politics in Latin America.
Quick facts about Brazil
- Brazil got its name from the Brazilwood tree "pau-brasil" which was highly valued by early European explorers for producing a deep red dye.
- Following a U.S.-backed 1964 coup, Brazil was ruled by a repressive military dictatorship for 21 years; its modern political system remains heavily influenced by the 1979 Amnesty Law, which shielded military officials from prosecution for human rights abuses during the regime.
- As Latin America's largest democracy and economic power, Brazil contains over 60% of the Amazon Rainforest, houses the world's greatest volume of freshwater (the Amazon River basin), and ranks as the world's top exporter of soybeans, iron ore, beef, and coffee.
- Under its 1988 Constitution, Brazilian foreign policy mandates non-intervention and multi-polarity; it sits as a founding member of BRICS, maintaining strategic trade ties with China, the EU, and the Global South despite intense western geopolitical pressure.
- Over 80% of Brazil's national electricity grid is generated from renewable sources driven primarily by mega-hydroelectric complexes like Itaipu (shared with Paraguay) alongside a massive domestic sugarcane-ethanol biofuel mandate.