President Lee Calls for Critical Minerals Cooperation with Brazil, Resumption of Mercosur Trade Pact

President Lee Jae-myung, currently on a state visit to Brazil, stated on the 27th (local time) that "in an era of growing uncertainties in the trade environment, a trade agreement between South Korea and Mercosur is an important task that can no longer be delayed."

President Lee made the remarks during a joint press briefing following a summit with Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva at the presidential palace.

Mercosur is a South American customs union comprising Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, and Uruguay, recognized as South America's largest economic bloc and a strategic stronghold rich in major mineral resources such as lithium and nickel.

"I am confident that this trade agreement will expand opportunities for our companies to enter the South American common market while providing Brazilian companies with new opportunities to advance into the Asian market using South Korea as a foothold," President Lee said. "It will serve as an important foundation for both countries to move forward together as true strategic partners."

Regarding bilateral relations between South Korea and Brazil, he noted, "I am delighted to visit Brazil as the president of the Republic of Korea for the first time in 11 years. Brazil is the world's 11th-largest economy and a core pillar of global supply chains and food security," adding, "In today's summit, the two countries proclaimed this year as the inaugural year for a leap forward in the South Korea-Brazil strategic partnership."

He explained that following the "Four-Year Action Plan" adopted during President Lula's visit to South Korea in February of this year, the latest summit further concretized the vision for cooperation.

First, he stated, "As the Economic and Trade Commission—a high-level platform for industrial and trade cooperation between the two nations—was launched ahead of the summit, we will expand cooperation not only in trade and investment but also in defense, aerospace, critical minerals, and the digital economy."

In particular, he shared that "we have agreed to strengthen strategic cooperation in resources and energy to diversify supply chains," adding, "Brazil is a world-class holder of critical minerals, and we shared the understanding on the necessity of expanding cooperation across the entire lifecycle of critical mineral supply chains between the enterprises and institutions of both countries."

The two leaders established a working group to lead discussions on trade and economic cooperation, including the resumption of the Mercosur agreement, to be overseen respectively by the Vice President of Brazil and Kim Yong-beom, Chief Policy Officer at the Presidential Office.

"We will further deepen cooperation and exchanges between South Korea and Brazil across all areas of economy, industry, security, and culture. Naturally, we will also ensure that the pace progresses very rapidly," President Lee said.

He added that the memorandum of understanding (MOU) on energy cooperation signed today will contribute to cooperation in clean energy and the energy transition.

He also highlighted achievements in discussions concerning advanced and future industries, notably the defense sector.

"The two countries have agreed to launch a joint defense committee in the second half of this year and will also pursue an 'Agreement on the Protection and Exchange of Military and Defense Classified Information,'" President Lee said. "Our companies' components are equipped in Brazil's C-390 transport aircraft, which the South Korean Air Force is set to introduce in the second half of the year. We will further develop this kind of cooperation."

He continued, "I ask for your special attention so that our various defense equipments, whose superior performance has been proven, can also gain recognition in Brazil, the largest defense powerhouse in Central and South America."

Furthermore, President Lee noted that by signing an "MOU on Space Cooperation"—which includes streamlining procedures for launching civilian launch vehicles—they have laid the groundwork for both nations to open a future space era, while also reaching a consensus on building an exemplary win-win model in the semiconductor sector.

Meanwhile, the two countries agreed to strengthen coordination on international security issues.

"I explained our government's firm philosophy that making a peace where there is no need to fight is the most reliable and robust security, rather than a security achieved by fighting and winning, and President Lula showed deep empathy," President Lee remarked.

Expressing gratitude, he added, "Brazil is a country that has consistently supported a world without nuclear weapons and the peaceful resolution of conflicts, leading denuclearization in Central and South America. I thank President Lula and the Brazilian government for sending firm support to our government's efforts toward the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula and the establishment of permanent peace."

Concluding his remarks, President Lee said, "There is a saying in Brazil: 'A uniao faz a forca' (Unity makes strength). When we connect the strengths of our two countries, the distance across the Pacific Ocean will not be a constraint, but a space of new opportunities."

In his joint press remarks, President Lula stated, "I discussed the Tropical Forest Forever Facility (TFFF) with President Lee," and added, "Brazil has been exporting many livestock products to South Korea and has held extensive consultations regarding this.

There will be an on-site inspection by the South Korean side of Brazilian slaughterhouses next year."

(Photo: Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.