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As Prime Minister Narendra Modi embarks on a landmark multi-nation tour of Latin America, defence and strategic cooperation with Argentina and Brazil has emerged as a central theme, alongside broader geopolitical alignment of India within the Global South.
This diplomatic outreach marks a new phase in India’s growing presence in Latin America, with both Argentina and Brazil expressing strong interest in military collaboration, defence technology sharing, and nuclear energy cooperation.
The visit is expected to solidify India’s strategic partnerships in the region, with implications for security, defence exports, and multilateral cooperation through platforms like BRICS and IBSA.
Argentina: Strategic Partner and Counter-Terror Ally
Prime Minister Modi’s official visit to Argentina on July 4–5—the first bilateral trip by an Indian PM in 57 years—comes at a critical moment. Argentina is undergoing sweeping economic reforms, mirroring India’s own liberalisation path, and sees India as a key partner in sectors ranging from mining and digital technology to defence and nuclear energy.
India and Argentina formalised their strategic partnership in 2019, and defence cooperation is now expected to gain fresh momentum.
According to Secretary (East) in the Ministry of External Affairs, P. Kumaran, Argentina has consistently supported India on counter-terrorism platforms, including strong backing at the United Nations following recent terror attacks in Jammu and Kashmir.
“Argentina has supported us very strongly on counter-terrorism initiatives in all forums… They’ve also issued a very strong statement supporting us on the Pahalgam terror attack,” Kumaran said, underlining the close alignment on security concerns.
Responding to questions, Kumaran said that the visit is also expected to explore collaboration in defence manufacturing, space technology, and nuclear energy, particularly in areas like small modular reactors (SMRs). Official talks on SMR-specific cooperation remain at an early stage.
Brazil: A New Frontier for Defence Industry Partnerships
As reported previously, Prime Minister Modi’s stop in Brazil—where he will attend the 17th BRICS Leaders’ Summit in Rio de Janeiro before heading to Brasilia for a bilateral meeting—is equally significant. Brazil is seeking deeper engagement in India’s rapidly growing defence sector, particularly in the areas of secure communications, naval platforms, and missile defence systems.
As confirmed by Secretary Kumaran, Brazil is showing particular interest in a range of Indian defence technologies, including: Secure battlefield communication systems; Offshore Patrol Vessels (OPVs); Akash Air Defence System; Garuda Artillery Guns; Coastal surveillance systems; and Scorpène-class submarine maintenance partnerships.
“There is a lot of potential for us to work with Brazil, given their strength in aircraft manufacturing and interest in defence joint ventures,” said Kumaran, citing possibilities for joint research, co-development of systems, and technology transfer.
Embraer and India: Aviation, Defence and Beyond
Brazil’s aerospace giant Embraer is also stepping up its India engagement across both civil and military aviation. With almost 50 Embraer aircraft already in use in India—including the Netra AEW&C system based on the Embraer ERJ145 platform—the company is looking to expand cooperation further.
The Brazilian firm has signed an MoU with Mahindra Defence Systems to explore joint bids for the Indian Air Force’s Medium Transport Aircraft (MTA) requirement using the C-390 Millennium platform. According to sources, “the talks with the Indian Air Force (IAF) for the C390 MTA is still going on.”
Embraer is also in active discussions with IndiGo and Air India to supply E-2 commercial jets, highlighting its ambitions in India’s fast-growing aviation sector.
“India is the third-largest aviation market globally. That’s why we’re deepening our collaboration and have established a subsidiary here,” said Embraer CEO Francisco Gomes Neto, noting opportunities across commercial, defence, and eVTOL segments.
Embraer’s commitment includes building a local supply chain, exploring the launch of an MRO (Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul) hub, and recruiting a dedicated team for operations in India.
Shared Vision Through BRICS and the Global South
The India-Brazil partnership is also underpinned by strong multilateral alignment. Both countries are active participants in BRICS, G20, IBSA, and the G4 alliance—a group pushing for UN Security Council reform.
Strengthening South-South Defence Ties
India’s continued push for defence self-reliance and exports, underscored by record defence exports of Rs 24,000 crore in FY 2024–25, makes it a valuable partner for Latin American nations looking to diversify military procurement.
The Government of India aims to double this figure to Rs 50,000 crore by 2029, with Latin America seen as an emerging market. As India expands its defence manufacturing ecosystem, partnerships with nations like Argentina and Brazil represent not only commercial opportunities but also a strategic alignment in an increasingly multipolar world order.
