Brazil and Germany in a Multipolar World: Global and Regional Challenges

Since 2002, Brazil and Germany call their relationship a strategic partnership. In the framework of this partnership, Brazil and Germany updated in 2008 their Action Plan so as to strengthen dialogue and cooperation in the United Nations, as well in multilateral fora, promote the reform of the Security Council and advocate the strengthening of the multilateral system to ensure a more equitable and fair international order. In 2015, the first meeting of the High-level Intergovernmental Consultations between the two countries was held by then-President Dilma Rousseff and, and on the German side, by Federal Chancellor Angela Merkel. Moreover, the bilateral Joint Commission on Economic Co-operation has been meeting regularly for the last 45 years, and in 2016 the two governments established a Mechanism for Consultations on Multilateral Issues, which also meets on an annual basis.

Brazil and Germany have the largest populations and the largest economies in their respective regions and have a deep commitment to regional integration, as well as to the EU-Mercosur negotiations.

The two countries are also strongly committed to multilateralism and are key players in the most important fora, such as the United Nations and its specialised agencies, the Bretton Woods Institutions, the World Trade Organisation and the G20.

Fundação Alexandre de Gusmão (FUNAG) and the German Institute for Global and Area Studies (GIGA) are among the leading think tanks in their respective countries. In this context, and bearing in mind the importance of the bilateral relationship, as well as the similar roles played by the two countries at the global and regional levels, the two institutions are very glad to host this first joint Conference focused on the global and regional roles of Brazil and Germany, and look forward to pursuing this partnership into future.