UAE’s Lana Nusseibeh Strengthens Strategic Ties with Brazil
Abu Dhabi, The Gulf Observer: Lana Nusseibeh, UAE Assistant Minister for Political Affairs, visited Brazil on November 5-6, 2024, to strengthen cooperation between the two nations ahead of the UAE’s participation in the G20 summit as an invited guest of Brazil’s presidency later this month. During her visit, Nusseibeh held high-level consultations with Brazilian officials, think tanks, and journalists to advance shared priorities, including trade, investment, climate action, and global governance.
In Brasilia, Nusseibeh led a round of political consultations with Carlos Sergio Sobral Duarte, Secretary of Africa and the Middle East at Brazil’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The discussions aimed at deepening bilateral ties across mutual interests such as economic growth, conflict resolution, and strengthening multilateral institutions. Brazilian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mauro Vieira, hosted Nusseibeh and UAE Ambassador to Brazil, Saleh Al Suwaidi, at a lunch to discuss the evolving bilateral relationship and global challenges.
A key topic was the ongoing negotiations on a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) between the UAE and the MERCOSUR trade bloc, which completed its third round last month in Uruguay. Both countries anticipate that CEPA will boost trade and investment flows, enhancing economic ties between the UAE and Latin America.
The visit also underscored UAE and Brazil’s collaboration in international platforms, including recent tenures on the UN Security Council. Nusseibeh praised Brazil’s leadership in global diplomacy, particularly its work through the G20, BRICS, and climate initiatives, and expressed UAE’s full support for Brazil’s G20 agenda focused on inequality, energy transition, and governance reform.
In discussions with National Congress President Rodrigo Pacheco, as well as Chief Foreign Policy Advisor Celso Amorim, Nusseibeh exchanged views on strengthening diplomatic relations and foreign policy alignment. Her visit to the Rio Branco Institute and discussions at the Brazilian Centre for International Relations (CEBRI) further emphasized the UAE’s commitment to deepening strategic ties with Brazil.
Concluding her visit, Nusseibeh reiterated the UAE’s commitment to advancing shared goals of political, economic, and social development over the next five decades, celebrating the 50th anniversary of UAE-Brazil diplomatic relations.
