Prior to the meetings between the respective ministries of both countries on Monday, Federal Chancellor Friedrich Merz received Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva in Hanover for talks on Sunday. The focus of the third German-Brazilian intergovernmental consultations was on international issues and economic relations.
Hanover, 19 April 2026: Federal Chancellor Friedrich Merz received Brazil's President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva with military honours at Herrenhausen Palace. Germany and Brazil met for the third time for intergovernmental consultations.
The intergovernmental consultations were held under the motto of joint inclusive growth and the topics of employment, peace and security.
Both governments agreed on a series of joint projects and initiatives to further intensify the close cooperation between Germany and Brazil.
Joint programmes are planned in foreign policy, armaments cooperation and defence policy — as well as in economic cooperation and digital transformation. The countries also aim to cooperate on research, technology and space travel, as well as in the areas of the environment and climate, labour law and fair trade.
Intergovernmental consultations primarily take place between the relevant ministers. Among those taking part in the consultations on behalf of Germany was Federal Minister of Finance Lars Klingbeil.
The objectives of the partnerships were set out in writing at the signing ceremony. Minister for Economic Cooperation and Development Reem Alabali Radovan and Brazil's Minister of the Environment and Climate Change João Paulo Capobianco also signed a joint declaration.
At a time when the world order is changing fundamentally, the closeness of the two countries is more necessary than ever, he said: “We want to be a network of strong and like-minded partners,” said Federal Chancellor Merz.
The Chancellor praised the EU-MERCOSUR trade agreement, which will provisionally enter into force on 1 May, as a joint success of the partnership: “The agreement will contribute significantly to closer cooperation. This applies, in particular, to the future topics of technology, artificial intelligence, energy, the circular economy, environmental technologies and agriculture.”