Brazil–Caribbean Summit brings new nations to Alliance Against Hunger
Nations represented at the Brazil–Caribbean Summit joined the Global Alliance Against Hunger and Poverty, and cooperation pacts were signed between Brazil and the Caribbean countries. With the participation of 16 countries from the region as well as Caribbean organizations, the assembly—which took place in Brasília and ended on Friday (Jun. 13)—discussed food security, climate change, energy transition, disaster management, and connectivity.
At the end of the summit, it was announced that Barbados, Saint Lucia, and Cuba, as well as the Caribbean Development Bank, had joined the Global Alliance Against Hunger and Poverty. Launched by Brazil in November last year during the G20 Leaders’ Summit in Rio de Janeiro, the initiative brings together over 150 members with a view to expanding global efforts to eradicate hunger and poverty in the world.
In her closing statement, President of the Caribbean Community (Caricom) and Prime Minister of Barbados Mia Mottley highlighted the Brazilian government’s efforts to involve the international community in the fight against hunger and extreme poverty.
“Brazil’s global leadership on these issues is reflected in our sustainable development goals and continues to inspire us,” she declared.
She also pointed out that countries need to tackle hunger in a more humane way, not just in “arithmetic terms,” “so that we continue the effort to ensure that the rules and the international order do not focus only on the movement of capital, but also on progress and the humanity of people.”
In his speech, Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva pointed out that the countries have made progress in the debate on climate change, and that Brazil and the community of Caribbean countries will take a declaration with common positions to COP30, to be held in Belém in November. He pointed out that the region’s island countries are among the most vulnerable to the effects of global warming.
“We will arrive in Belém united for a just and inclusive transition. We will arrive demanding ambitious emission reduction targets from rich countries as well as robust funding for mitigation, adaptation, and compensation for loss and damage,” he stated.
The president also stressed that Brazil can help the region with energy transition and the de-carbonization of energy systems, as it has extensive experience in biofuels and wind and solar energy.
Bilateral agreements
In addition to announcing the transfer of $5 million to the Caribbean Development Bank, which will be used to finance projects in the region, Brazil signed a deal on air services with Barbados and Suriname, aimed at providing greater legal security for air operations between the nations, boosting trade and tourism. Partnerships were also signed for technical cooperation with the Bahamian community and for public management with the Dominican Republic.
The Dominican Republic also inked an accord with Brazil aimed at exchanging consular training between the two countries' diplomatic training bodies.
In addition, Brazil established a memorandum of understanding with Cuba between Brazil’s National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq) and the Cuban Ministry of Science, Technology, and the Environment, with the aim of jointly supporting scientific and technological study and research.
