Lok Sabha Question No. 5680 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-03-27
Subject: Relations with South American Countries
Ministry: EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
Asked by: Ms. Praniti Sushilkumar Shinde

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 5680

## ANSWERED ON 27.03.2026

## RELATIONS WITH SOUTH AMERICAN COUNTRIES

5680. MS. PRANITI SUSHILKUMAR SHINDE

Will the Minister of EXTERNAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state:-

(a) the current status of India's bilateral relations with countries in Latin

America   and   South   America,   including   recent   high-level   visits, agreements and strategic partnerships;

(b) India's trade and investment engagements with major Latin American and South American economies along with the details of key sectors and growth trends during the last three years;

(c)   the   initiatives   taken   by   the   Government   to   strengthen   cultural, educational and people-to-people ties with nations in the Latin American and South American regions;

(d)   the   role   of   multitateral   frameworks   and   India's   engagement   with regional organisations in the two regions, such as CELAC, Mercosur and others; and

(e) the steps being taken to further enhance cooperation in areas such as   energy,   technology,   agriculture,   defence,   climate   action   and sustainable   development   with   Latin   American   and   South   American countries?

## ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS

## (SHRI KIRTI VARDHAN SINGH)

(a) India   shares   warm   and   friendly   relations   with   Latin   American countries   and   has   developed   strong   collaboration   with   them   across political, economic, and cultural spheres.  The partnership is marked by several high-level visits, including incoming visits by the Presidents/Prime Ministers of Chile, Paraguay, Jamaica and Brazil and Hon'ble   Prime   Minister   Modi's   visits   to   Guyana,   Trinidad   &   Tobago, Argentina and Brazil, as well as multiple ministerial-level exchanges. India   elevated   its   diplomatic   relations   to   the   level   of   Strategic Partnership with Brazil in 2006 and with Argentina in 2019.  The focus areas of cooperation include trade and investment, digital technology and AI, health, education, critical minerals, space, nuclear energy, green energy,   science   and   technology,   training   and   capacity   building, infrastructure development and diaspora engagement. In recent years,

more than 50 MoUs have been signed between India and various Latin American countries.

(b) India's total bilateral trade with the region stood at USD 47.81 billion (Exports- 20.92 bn; Imports- 26.90 bn) in 2024-25, and USD 47.79 billion (Exports- 18.11 bn; Imports- 29.68 bn) in 2025-26 (April-January). However, given the size of both markets, there remains considerable potential   to   expand   trade   and   investment,   especially   in   agriculture, organic   chemicals,   agrochemicals,   energy   and   petroleum   products, minerals and ores, pharmaceuticals and healthcare, digital technologies, auto parts, textiles, aerospace, iron and steel products.

Institutional frameworks such as the Joint Trade Committees with Argentina   and   the   Trade   Monitoring   Mechanism   with   Brazil   are contributing   to   the   strengthening   of   trade   ties.   India   is   negotiating expansion of   the   PTA   with   MERCOSUR,   a   Comprehensive   Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) with Chile and a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with Peru to boost trade and investment flows.

(c) India shares deep-rooted cultural ties and strong people-to-people connections with Latin American countries.     Several initiatives have been undertaken to further enhance these bonds, including the signing of   cultural   exchange   agreements   with   countries   such   as   Guyana, Antigua and Barbuda, Bolivia, Chile, and Colombia. The Indian Council

for Cultural Relations (ICCR) has established cultural centres in Brazil, Guyana,   Mexico,   Suriname   and   Trinidad   &   Tobago   where   regular activities such as Yoga classes, Indian music and dance training, and courses in Hindi and Sanskrit are conducted. All Indian Missions in the region   actively   celebrate   International   Day   of   Yoga.   India   is   also negotiating   agreements   with   Latin   American   countries   for   the recognition of Ayurveda. In addition, scholarships under ICCR schemes and capacity-building opportunities through the ITEC programme are offered. Indian   Missions   regularly   celebrate   Indian   festivals   and organize   a   wide   range   of   cultural   activities,   including   Indian   film festivals,   dance   and   music   performances,   exhibitions,   and   academic outreach programmes at universities and cultural institutions across the region.

(d)  India actively collaborates with Latin American countries at regional and multilateral levels and shares strong and cordial relations across global   platforms.   Several   countries   have   extended   their   support   for India's permanent membership in the United Nations Security Council. Countries in the region have also backed India's candidature in various UN bodies and have also joined in India-led international initiatives such as the International Solar Alliance (ISA), Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI), Global Bio-Fuel Alliance (GBA) and International

Big Cat Alliance (IBCA). India maintains regular engagement with key regional groupings such as CARICOM, CELAC, SICA and MERCOSUR. Hon'ble Prime Minister co-chaired the 2nd India-CARICOM Summit in November 2024 in Georgetown, Guyana. External Affairs Minister CoChaired   India-CELAC   and   India-SICA   (Central   American   Integration System) Foreign Ministers' Meeting in New York on 25 th  September 2025. India   also   continues   to   deepen   its   engagement   with   MERCOSUR countries.

(e) India is actively working to enhance its engagement with Latin American countries across key domains such as energy, technology, agriculture,   defence,   climate   action,   and   sustainable   development. Meetings under key bilateral mechanisms, including Joint Commission Meetings   (JCM)   and   Foreign   Office   Consultations   (FOC),   are   held regularly to explore opportunities for cooperation in these and other sectors.

In   the   defence   sector,   India   has   signed   MoUs   with   several countries in the region. It is actively promoting the export of defence equipment to countries in the region.  India also extends ITEC training slots to personnel from these countries. In addition, regular visits and exchanges   of   defence   delegations   from   India   further   contribute   to strengthening institutional linkages and enhancing mutual

understanding. On the technological front, India is negotiating India STACK   agreement   with   multiple   countries,   and   expanding   space cooperation through ISRO's partnerships with regional counterparts.

In the area of  sustainable development, India has implemented several   development   partnership   projects   across   the   region   through Lines of Credit, grants, and capacity-building initiatives, particularly in infrastructure, renewable energy, healthcare, and   community development.

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[Note:  Latin American countries include South American countries.]