Brazil–Lebanon relations

Brazil–Lebanon refers to the current and historical relations between the Brazil and Lebanon. Approximately 7 to 10 million Brazilians have Lebanese ancestry.[1] Both nations are members of the Group of 24, Group of 77 and the United Nations.

Brazil-Lebanon relations

Brazil	Lebanon

History

Stamp commemorating Brazil-Lebanon relations

In 1877, Emperor Pedro II of Brazil visited Beirut, which was then part of the Ottoman Empire.[2] The first Lebanese migrants to arrive to Brazil was in 1882, with the majority of them being Maronite Christians from Mount Lebanon.[3] In 1920, Brazil opened a consulate in Beirut to facilitate Ottoman (Lebanese) emigration to Brazil. By 1914, over 60,000 Lebanese had immigrated to Brazil.[4] In October 1945, Lebanon obtained its independence from France and in November 1945, Brazil recognized and established diplomatic relations with Lebanon.[1]

In 1954, Lebanese President Camille Chamoun paid an official visit to Brazil, becoming the first Lebanese head of state to visit Brazil. Later that year, both nations opened embassies in each other's capital's, respectively.[1] Between World War I and World War II, a second wave of Lebanese migrants immigrated to Brazil. The last wave of Lebanese immigrated to Brazil during the Lebanese Civil War (1975–1990).[4]

Since 2011, Brazil has contributed troops and has taken command of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon, based in the south of Lebanon and currently maintains 1,288 soldiers and personnel in the country.[5] In November 2011, then Brazilian Vice-President, Michel Temer, paid a visit to Lebanon. Temer, who is of Lebanese origin, became President of Brazil in August 2016.[6]

High-level visits

High-level visits from Brazil to Lebanon[1]

• Vice-President Michel Temer (2011)

High-level visits from Lebanon to Brazil[1]

• President Camille Chamoun (1954)
• Prime Minister Rafic Hariri (1995, 2003)
• President Elias Hrawi (1997)
• Prime Minister Najib Mikati (2005)
• President Michel Sleiman (2010)

Agreements

Both nations have signed several bilateral agreements, such as a Memorandum of Understanding on Political Consultations; Agreement on Visa Waiver for citizens holding diplomatic, service or official passports and an Agreement by Exchange of Notes to extend tourism and business visa validity in regular passports.[1]

Trade

In 2018, trade between Brazil and Lebanon totaled US$298 million dollars.[7] Brazil's main exports to Lebanon include: meat, coffee, sugar, airplanes and automobiles. Lebanon's main exports to Brazil include: fertilizer and lead.[8] Lebanon is Brazil's 77th largest trading partner globally.[8]

Resident diplomatic missions

• Brazil has an embassy in Beirut.[9]
• Lebanon has an embassy in Brasília and consulates-general in Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo.[10]

See also

• Lebanese Brazilians

References

1. "Lebanese Republic – Bilateral relations between Brazil and Lebanon". itamaraty.gov.br. Archived from the original on 2018-12-06. Retrieved 2017-09-29.
2. Ercan, P.G. (2017). Turkish Foreign Policy: International Relations, Legality and Global Reach. Springer International Publishing. p. 239. ISBN 9783319504513. Retrieved 2017-09-29.
3. "The Lebanese immigrants who became Brazil's business leaders | Business , Local | THE DAILY STAR". dailystar.com.lb. Retrieved 2017-09-29.
4. "Lebanese Diaspora: the imagined communities History and numbers – The Lebanese International Business Council". LIBC. Retrieved 2017-09-29.
5. "Troop and police contributors. United Nations Peacekeeping – United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon". un.org. Retrieved 2017-09-29.
6. "Why a Lebanese village welcomes Brazil's new president". BBC News. Retrieved 2017-09-29.
7. ACSP busca facilitar comércio entre Líbano e o Mercosul (in Portuguese)
8. "Brasil - Líbano: Relaçōes Comerciais (in Portuguese)" (PDF). 2016-11-30. Retrieved 2017-10-01.
9. Embassy of Brazil in Beirut
10. Embassy of Lebanon in Beirut