Mauro VieiraA Diplomatic Archive

No. 12 — Foreign Policy

Key international issues

A research library of the questions that shape Brazilian diplomacy — each with background, Brazil’s documented position, the minister’s role and current status.

Conflicts and humanitarian crises are described in an educational register, without graphic detail. Positions are those documented in official statements and reliable reporting.

How the library is organised

Each entry follows the same four-part structure recommended for contested international subjects: background; Brazil’s documented position; Mauro Vieira’s documented role, where one exists; and current status as of 11 September 2026. Use the filters to narrow the library by theme, or search within it.

Mauro Vieira speaking at a press conference, broadcast microphones in the foreground
Fig. 01At a press conference. Supplied image (credited AFP in the frame); date not recorded.
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Climate & Amazon

Climate diplomacy and COP30

Brazil hosted the 30th UN Climate Change Conference in Belém in November 2025, placing the Amazon at the centre of the negotiations.

Background, position & status

Background. Brazil’s climate diplomacy links forest protection, climate finance and development. The Amazon Summit in Belém (August 2023) and COP30 (Leaders’ Summit 6–7 November; conference 10–21 November 2025) were the two landmark events of the period.

Brazil’s documented position. COP30’s outcomes included the “Global Mutirão” decision, a call to triple adaptation finance by 2035 and a goal of mobilising US$1.3 trillion a year by 2035. Brazil launched the Tropical Forest Forever Facility, endorsed by 53 countries at launch, and pledged US$1bn to it.

Mauro Vieira’s documented role. Discussed COP30 preparations with the President of the UN General Assembly on 26 September 2025. The conference itself was led by the COP presidency and the Presidency of the Republic.

Current status. Implementation of the Belém outcomes and the capitalisation of the TFFF were under way in 2026.

Climate & Amazon

Amazon cooperation

Eight countries share the Amazon basin and its treaty organisation.

Background, position & status

Background. The Amazon Cooperation Treaty was signed on 3 July 1978 by Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Peru, Suriname and Venezuela.

Brazil’s documented position. The Belém Declaration of August 2023 set out 113 objectives for regional cooperation.

Mauro Vieira’s documented role. No specific personal role is documented in this archive’s sources.

Current status. ACTO remains the regional framework; the 2023 declaration guides its agenda.

Peace & security · Humanitarian

Israel–Gaza and the Middle East

The October 2023 Security Council presidency placed Brazil at the centre of the Council’s response to the war.

Background, position & status

Background. Following the 7 October 2023 attacks and the ensuing war in Gaza, the Council struggled to agree. A Russian draft failed on 16 October; Brazil’s draft calling for humanitarian pauses won 12 votes on 18 October but was vetoed by the United States. Resolution 2712 was adopted on 15 November 2023, after Brazil’s presidency ended.

Brazil’s documented position. Brazil supports a two-state solution, humanitarian access and full UN membership for Palestine. In Ramallah in March 2024 Vieira said: “It’s illegal and immoral to prevent people from accessing food and water.”

Mauro Vieira’s documented role. Presided over Council meetings in October 2023, including the ministerial open debate of 24 October; visited Ramallah in March 2024; attended the Cairo conference on humanitarian aid to Gaza on 2 December 2024; in April 2025 called the collapse of the January ceasefire “deplorable”.

Current status. The humanitarian situation and diplomatic efforts continue; see the cited sources for the latest official positions.

Peace & security

The war in Ukraine

Brazil has sought a role in promoting negotiations rather than aligning with either side.

Background, position & status

Background. The full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 produced the largest war in Europe in decades. Brazil, a founding member of BRICS alongside Russia, has framed its approach around dialogue and the UN Charter.

Brazil’s documented position. On 23 May 2024 China and Brazil issued six “Common Understandings” on a political settlement, agreed by Wang Yi and President Lula’s adviser Celso Amorim. In April 2025 Vieira called for “a diplomatic solution based on the principles and purposes of the United Nations Charter”.

Mauro Vieira’s documented role. Co-chaired, with Wang Yi and Celso Amorim, the ministerial launch of the “Friends for Peace” group at UN Headquarters on 27 September 2024.

Current status. The conflict continued in 2026; Brazil maintains its call for negotiations involving both parties.

Regional · Peace & security

Venezuela

A neighbour whose political crisis has repeatedly tested regional diplomacy.

Background, position & status

Background. Venezuela has been suspended from Mercosur since 2016–17. Relations with Brazil were restored in 2023. The presidential election of 28 July 2024 was disputed. On 3 January 2026 a US military operation led to the detention of Nicolás Maduro.

Brazil’s documented position. In August 2024 Brazil, Colombia and Mexico called for the publication of results by polling station. In January 2026 Brazil told the Security Council that the US action “crossed an unacceptable line”.

Mauro Vieira’s documented role. A Senate committee hearing to question him on Venezuela, set for October 2024, was cancelled. His personal statements on the January 2026 events are not documented in this archive’s sources.

Current status. The situation remained fluid in 2026. See Regional Diplomacy for the full chronology.

Hunger & development

The Global Alliance Against Hunger and Poverty

Brazil’s signature initiative of its G20 presidency.

Background, position & status

Background. Fighting hunger and poverty was the first of three priorities of Brazil’s 2024 G20 presidency.

Brazil’s documented position. Launched at the Rio de Janeiro summit on 18 November 2024 with 82 countries, the African Union, the EU and dozens of organisations; by October 2025 it counted 104 countries.

Mauro Vieira’s documented role. Chaired the G20 foreign ministers’ track under which the presidency’s agenda was advanced in 2024.

Current status. The Alliance is operational and continues to add members.

Global governance

Reform of international institutions

A constant of Brazilian diplomacy: institutions should reflect today’s world.

Background, position & status

Background. Brazil has long sought reform of the UN Security Council and of the Bretton Woods institutions.

Brazil’s documented position. At the G20 in Rio, Vieira reported agreement that “the main multilateral institutions – UN, World Trade Organization, World Bank and International Monetary Fund, among others – need to be reformed”.

Mauro Vieira’s documented role. Chaired the first G20 meeting held at UN Headquarters (25 September 2024), which launched a Call to Action on Global Governance Reform; addressed the Global Governance Group (3G) on 23 September 2024.

Current status. Reform negotiations continue in the UN and in the international financial institutions.

Trade

Tariffs and the trading system

From the EU–Mercosur agreement to US tariffs, trade has been at the centre of the second term.

Background, position & status

Background. The US imposed an additional 40% tariff on many Brazilian goods from August 2025 and further tariffs under Section 301 in July 2026. The EU–Mercosur agreement was signed in January 2026.

Brazil’s documented position. Brazil defends a rules-based trading system centred on the WTO and rejected the 2026 tariffs, citing its Reciprocity Law.

Mauro Vieira’s documented role. Led talks with the US Secretary of State in 2025; represented Brazil at the EU–Mercosur signing.

Current status. See Economic & Commercial Diplomacy for data and chronology.

Regional integration

Latin American integration

A constitutional objective.

Background, position & status

Background. Article 4 of the Constitution commits Brazil to seek the integration of the peoples of Latin America.

Brazil’s documented position. Brazil returned to CELAC and UNASUR in 2023 and supported Bolivia’s accession to Mercosur, completed in 2024.

Mauro Vieira’s documented role. The returns took place in the first months of his second term.

Current status. Mercosur’s pro tempore presidency passed from Brazil to Paraguay in December 2025.

Global governance · Peace & security

Brazil and the Security Council

Eleven elected terms and a long campaign for reform.

Background, position & status

Background. Brazil was elected to the Council for 2022–23 with 181 votes, its eleventh term.

Brazil’s documented position. Brazil advocates an expanded Council with new permanent members, including itself.

Mauro Vieira’s documented role. Presided over Council meetings in October 2023; earlier, as Permanent Representative, briefed the Council as chair of the PBC Guinea-Bissau configuration (2017).

Current status. Brazil is not a Council member in 2024–2026.

Sources & Further Reading35 references
  1. COP30 — United Nations Climate Change Conference, BelémUnited Nations
  2. Belém COP30 delivers climate finance boost and pledge to plan fossil fuel transitionUN Geneva
  3. COP30: Key outcomes agreed at the UN climate talks in BelémCarbon Brief
  4. Over USD 5.5 billion announced for Tropical Forest Forever Facility as 53 countries endorse the TFFF launch declarationCOP30 Presidency
  5. Readout of the President of the General Assembly's meeting with H.E. Mr. Mauro Vieira (26 September 2025)United Nations — President of the General Assembly
  6. Get to know the Belém Declaration signed by the Amazon countriesAmazon Cooperation Treaty Organization
  7. Israel-Gaza crisis: US vetoes Security Council resolution (18 October 2023)UN News
  8. Security Council fails to adopt resolution calling for humanitarian pauses in Israel-Gaza crisis (SC/15450)United Nations
  9. The Middle East, including the Palestinian question: ministerial-level open debate (October 2023)Security Council Report
  10. At the West Bank, Brazilian foreign minister Mauro Vieira says the country will work to include Palestine as UN full member (18 March 2024)Brasil de Fato
  11. Address by Minister Mauro Vieira at the Cairo Ministerial Conference to Enhance the Humanitarian Response in Gaza (2 December 2024)Itamaraty
  12. Brazil opens BRICS meeting with call to end wars, global tensions (29 April 2025)Brasil de Fato
  13. Brazil and China present joint proposal for peace negotiations with the participation of Russia and Ukraine (23 May 2024)Presidency of Brazil (Planalto)
  14. China and Brazil: Common Understandings on the Political Settlement of the Ukraine Crisis (23 May 2024)Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China
  15. Ministerial meeting of the "Friends for Peace" group on the Ukraine crisis (27 September 2024)Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China
  16. Suspensión de Venezuela en el MercosurMercosur
  17. Brazil's diplomatic mission in Venezuela to reopen embassy (January 2023)Agência Brasil
  18. Second joint statement by Brazil, Colombia and Mexico on the elections in Venezuela (8 August 2024)Secretaría de Relaciones Exteriores, Mexico
  19. Cancelada reunião da CRE para ouvir ministro Mauro Vieira sobre Venezuela (14 October 2024)Agência Senado
  20. Security Council meets on Venezuela (January 2026)UN News
  21. World leaders launch the Global Alliance Against Hunger and Poverty (18 November 2024)Global Alliance Against Hunger and Poverty
  22. G20 Brasil 2024Government of Brazil
  23. Press Statement by Minister Mauro Vieira at the G20 Foreign Ministers' Meeting (Rio de Janeiro, 22 February 2024)G20 Research Group, University of Toronto
  24. G20 Foreign Ministers' Meeting, United Nations Headquarters (September 2024)Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Singapore
  25. Address by Minister Mauro Vieira at the Ministerial Meeting of the Global Governance Group (3G), 23 September 2024Itamaraty
  26. Trump signs executive order imposing tariffs on Brazil (30 July 2025)CNN
  27. Brazil condemns new US tariffs (16 July 2026)TIME
  28. EU, Mercosur bloc sign free trade deal after 25 years of negotiations (17 January 2026)Al Jazeera
  29. Constituição da República Federativa do Brasil de 1988 — Art. 4ºPresidency of the Republic (Planalto)
  30. Brazil once again part of CELAC: understand what the regional bloc is (January 2023)Agência Brasil
  31. Return of Brazil to UNASUR (April 2023)Itamaraty
  32. Bolivia's entry as full member should set tone of Mercosur summit (July 2024)Agência Brasil
  33. Paraguay handed over Mercosur pro tempore presidency (22 December 2025)MercoPress
  34. UN elects five new members to serve on the Security Council (June 2021)UN News
  35. Security Council briefing by the Chair of the PBC Guinea-Bissau configuration (14 February 2017)UN Peacebuilding