The French Senate has just published a report by five representatives of the Foreign Affairs Committee. The authors of the document urge France to quickly rebuild and strengthen ties with its South American neighbors, especially Brazil.
“France is a global nation. Through French Guiana, the country is also a South American and Amazonian nation,” points out centrist Senator Philippe Folliot. He signs the report alongside colleagues Joëlle Garriaud-Maylam and Catherine Dumas of the right-wing Republicans party, socialist André Vallini and ruling senator Nicole Duranton. The five elected representatives of the Foreign Affairs Committee have drawn up 20 policy proposals to strengthen relations with Latin America, 13 of which concern relations between France and Brazil.
With the return of President Lula to the presidency, Brazil hopes to return to its apogee, reveals the document, which was advised by geographer François-Michel Le Tourneau, director of research at the CNRS. In the assessment of this Brazilianist, if the country resumes the path of growth, it will regain some of its global influence.
The document points out points of divergence, such as the Brazilian government’s position on the Russian invasion of Ukraine and the delay in implementing the Mercosur-European Union free trade agreement, but encourages France to move forward in areas of strategic potential. As soon as he took office, President Lula announced his intention to fight deforestation and illegal gold mining.
Protection and cooperation
In this context, the French senators propose, for example, joint patrols to protect the 730 km border with French Guiana, intensified judicial cooperation to “arrest the perpetrators of illegal acts” and consolidate agreements to combat deforestation in the Amazon.
This policy of rapprochement would also enable the conclusion of new strategic and military partnerships. The document recalls that Brazil is an important customer for France’s defense sector. In addition to the already concluded contracts for the construction of five submarines and a naval base in Itaguaí, Rio de Janeiro, the French Senate asks the government to renew partnerships in the land, cyber and space sectors, and to continue its efforts in the naval sector.
However, according to Senator Philippe Folliot, none of this will be possible until President Emmanuel Macron makes a symbolic visit to Brazil.