Dr. Carsten Sander Christensen, political reporter for “Azerbaijan Today” magazine, had an interview with Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Federative Republic of Brazil to Azerbaijan Mr. Manuel Montenegro.

A.T.: Mr. Ambassador, how do you assess the bilateral relations between Brazil and Azerbaijan?

M.M.: Over the last couple of years, relations between Brazil and Azerbaijan, which were already excellent, reached an unprecedentedly high level, symbolized by the visit to Baku of the Vice-President of Brazil, H.E. Geraldo Alckmin, who was received by H.E. President Ilham Aliyev on the margins of COP29. As a result of their discussions, the first meeting of the Joint Working Group on Trade and Investment Cooperation was held in Brasilia at the beginning of September 2025, under the co-chairmanship of Brazilian Deputy Foreign Minister Laudemar Aguiar and Deputy Prime Minister of Economy, Mr. Elnur Aliyev, who headed a major delegation of Azerbaijani officials representing various ministries and agencies. The ambitious roadmap that was agreed at the meeting has opened cooperation opportunities across a broad range of areas, including agriculture, energy, tourism, education and space science and technology. Moreover, the 5th round of high-level Brazil-Azerbaijan Political Consultations was also held in Brasilia, back-to-back with the Joint Working Group Meeting. The delegations were headed, respectively, by the First Deputy Foreign Minister of Brazil, Ambassador Maria Laura Rocha, and by Azerbaijan’s Deputy Foreign Minister, Mr. Elnur Mammadov, who was also received by the Brazilian Foreign Minister, Ambassador Mauro Vieira, on the margins of this high-level diplomatic mechanism. Moreover, I am delighted to add that both Deputy Foreign Minister Mammadov and First Deputy Minister Aliyev were received by Vice-President Geraldo Alckmin and were able to brief him on bilateral developments since his visit to Baku. Last but definitely not least, September also saw the signature of the Brazil-Azerbaijan Framework Agreement on Educational Cooperation, which established an important foundation for long-term collaboration in priority areas across all fields of knowledge.  

A.T.: Mr. Ambassador, how do you see the possibility of Azerbaijan’s strategic location as a transit hub for the Middle Corridor, presents unique logistical opportunities for Brazil to access Central Asian and Eurasian markets?

M.M.: The successful development of the Middle Corridor is certainly going to attract increasing attention on the part of the Brazilian business sector, in view of the prospects int would open for improved logistics. Moreover, now that a roadmap for bilateral cooperation on trade and investment is in place, there will be a natural incentive for Brazil and Azerbaijan to also become hubs for each other’s regional activities and interests, both in Latin America and Central Asia.

A.T.: Mr. Ambassador, COP 29, was held in Baku last November. How do you see the possibilities for increased cooperation between Azerbaijan and your country in the environmental field?

M.M.: They go from strength to strength. Brazilian and Azerbaijani climate negotiators, led by the COP29 President, Mr. Mukhtar Babayev, and incoming COP30 President, Ambassador Andre Correa do Lago, have been closely coordinating actions in the context of the upcoming Belém Conference of the Parties to the UNFCCC. A major bilateral endeavor in this field has of course been the so-called “Baku-to-Belém Bridge”, which was established at COP29 with a view to promoting the ambitious goal of reaching a target of US$ 1.3 trillion in climate financing over the next few years. The launch of this mechanism at COP29, and the previous adoption of the Troika mechanism in Dubai, reflect the realization by the international community that continuity is of the essence for climate initiatives to receive the necessary traction. In this context, Brazil and Azerbaijan have also signed a Memorandum of Understanding that extends the climate cooperation horizon beyond COP30.   

A.T.: Mr. Ambassador, your country is one of the leading members of BRIC and Azerbaijan has participated in some of the meetings – how do you think Azerbaijan could be more involved in the BRIC cooperation and gain benefits from the collaboration?

M.M.: During the Brazilian Presidency of BRICS, an invitation was extended by President Lula da Silva to President Ilham Aliyev to attend the Leaders’ Summit in Rio. Brazil believes that BRICS is a major stabilizing component of an emerging multipolar world. The recent expansion of BRICS membership attests to the increased attention that it has received across the Global South. Further expansion thus would seem to be a trend, and members are likely considering how to go about it. In the meantime, an increased Azerbaijani interest in becoming involved in BRICS activities is certainly welcome by Brazil.

A.T.: In August 2025, the United States hosted the signing ceremony for a strategic transit corridor and a peace agreement between Armenia and Azerbaijan at the White House. How do you see the peace between the two countries can further develop political cooperation and trade deals between Brazil and Azerbaijan and the Caucasian Region?

M.M.: There’s no substitute for peace to promote a harmonious and prosperous regional development. Brazil welcomed the August 8th Joint Declaration, which was a major milestone on the way to sustainable peace and prosperity. Our First Deputy Foreign Minister, Ambassador Maria Laura da Rocha, personally conveyed this message from the Government of Brazil to Deputy Minister Elnur Mammadov at the Political Consultations in Brasilia.

A.T.: Mr. Ambassador, trade has steadily increased between Azerbaijan and your country, potential for enhanced commercial relations exists in agro-exports, technology, and leather-footwear sectors. Do you see other field of trade from your country that could be a possibility in Azerbaijan?

M.M.: The growth in trade from January to August, 2025, has been impressive indeed, virtually doubling the results of all of 2024. Nevertheless, there is vast room for growth in both directions. While raw sugar and beef continue to lead Brazilian exports to Azerbaijan, the priority the JWG attributed to agriculture and agribusiness at the Brasilia meeting has opened new avenues for collaboration. First of all, encouraging the exchange of trade missions will lead to a better understanding of each other’s potential and needs. For example, I trust that Brazil will start to participate in major Trade Fairs in Azerbaijan, such as Caspian Agro, which will be an opportunity to showcase our most advanced agricultural technologies. In this context, I would like to point out that Azerbaijani fertilizer exports are a key area of interest for Brazilian agriculture. Brazil was for a while the largest export market for Azerbaijani fertilizer.  There is no reason why we should not increase our exchanges once again. Oil, gas and renewable energies also bring a slew of opportunities for mutually beneficial exchanges not only of goods but also of technologies. Advanced training, as well as research and development, are potential areas further down the road, especially now that we can use the framework of both our educational cooperation agreement and our MoU on Agriculture. I am happy to say that collaboration on space technologies has been jumpstarted under the aegis of the 2023 MoU signed between the Brazilian Space Agency and Azercosmos. Both satellite technologies and Earth observation were discussed at the JWG meeting. Indeed, I believe that this and other technology-intensive fields, such as Artificial Intelligence applications, may increasingly bring new opportunities for collaboration between our countries.

A.T.: Azerbaijan is a country full of history and a melting pot between Asia and Europe – how do you see the opportunity to increase tourism between the two countries?

M.M.: Brazil and Azerbaijan are multicultural, multiethnic countries that also share a great geographic and climate diversity. I was recently impressed at the huge interest shown by both major Brazilian and Azerbaijani travel agency associations to jumpstart their collaboration.  This development will be of the essence to take tourist exchanges to the next level. Personally, I have traveled across much of Azerbaijan, both on private trips and on official missions. I am convinced that there is a lot of potential for “experiential travel” that allows Brazilian tourists to connect deeply with your country’s history, people, culture, food, and environment. Likewise, my country offers a virtually infinite range of options to the Azerbaijani traveler, from visiting traditional winegrowing regions in the South of the country to birdwatching, fishing or horse riding in the huge Center-West Pantanal region, from the otherworldly beauty of  Iguaçu Falls to Salvador de Bahia, the heart of Afro-Brazilian culture, from Brasilia’s Modernist architectural jewels to  the mighty Amazon as it meets the dark waters of the Negro river in the vicinity of Manaus, itself a major touristic destination. I could go on for hours, but let me close by just adding history-rich Belém, which was founded in 1616, the vibrant 24/7 energy of São Paulo and, of course, the infectious festivity of Rio de Janeiro, centered around its world-famous beaches, its iconic landmarks and its Carnaval.

A.T.: During the last decades Brazil and Azerbaijan has had a growing cooperation in the cultural field (theater, film, music and sports). How do you see a possibility to develop further cooperation in the cultural field in the near future?

M.M.: Brazilian and Azerbaijani cultural roots are deep and can become a great resource to promote strong people-to-people contacts. I am always delighted at how deeply our various musical genres touch the public of Azerbaijan. Over the years I have worked in Baku, talented Brazilian musicians have played every year before packed audiences at venues that include the Baku Jazz Festival and the Baku International Piano Festival. It is always amazing for me to see how often at those venues Azerbaijani, Brazilian and other international musicians share the stage for unforgettable jam sessions.  The Brazilian Classical Music Festivals we started in partnership with the Azerbaijan State Philharmonic are another way in which our music has come to establish its presence in the Baku artistic calendar. Last year, under the aegis of COP29, Brazilian maestros were invited to conduct concerts with the Opera and Ballet Orchestra and the State Philharmonic Orchestra. Azerbaijani conductors and soloists have likewise been invited over the years to perform with some of our most important ensembles, including the Brazilian Symphonic Orchestra (OSB) and the orchestra of the Theatro da Paz in Belem, where COP30 will be held. We conducted two very successful Brazilian Film Festivals, and hope that in 2026 this experience may be repeated.  Capoeira and Brazilian jiu-jitsu are also an important vehicle for sharing our culture with Azerbaijan. Azerbaijani athletes have achieved a high degree of technical development in those Brazilian martial arts, which attract a huge and growing following of new practitioners every year. Inclusive Capoeira, an Azerbaijani innovation, has benefitted children impacted by war, refugees, and even physically disabled people.