Over the past years, the relations between Russia and Brazil have seen stable positive dynamics due to the position adopted by the political establishment of both countries and aimed at strengthening a bilateral strategic partnership.
The countries are involved in an intense high-level political dialogue. In November 2004, and in November 2008, the Russian president came to Brazil on an official visit, while the official visits of the Brazilian president to Russia took place in January 2002, October 2005, May 2010 and December 2012.
During President Dilma Rousseff's official visit to Russia on 13-15 December 2012, she held negotiations with Russian President Vladimir Putin and met with Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev. The meetings confirmed a high level of mutual understanding between the two countries on major regional and international issues, and revealed potential prospects of developing trade and economic, scientific and technical and cultural and humanitarian relations. The leaders have decided on steps to develop a strategic partnership and bring its theory to practice.
Several documents were signed during the visit, including a joint declaration of the heads of state, an updated plan for a strategic partnership, intergovernmental agreement on military cooperation, intergovernmental Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation in the Field of Governance and Legacy for the Organisation of Olympic and Paralympic Games and the FIFA World Cup, a plan for Ministry of Foreign Affairs consultations in 2013-2015, Memorandum On Mutual Understanding Between the Ministry of Economic Development and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation and the Brazilian Ministry of Economic Development, Industry and Foreign Trade On Cooperation to Modernise Economy.
Russia and Brazil have similar approaches to international issues, which serves as a solid base for their cooperation in the international sphere. The priorities of the two countries include developing a mutual bloc and ideology-free cooperation, based on similar interests. The agreed political agenda includes providing global and regional security, fighting international terrorism and increasing economic stability.
Close or similar positions on the world's key political issues help develop cooperation in the international field, including the UN. Russia considers Brazil a strong candidate for permanent member of the reformed UN Security Council, in the event, the decision to increase the Council’s membership in both permanent and non-permanent categories is taken.
There are vast prospects for developing new forms of multilateral cooperation, for example, within the BRICS group. The first BRICS Summit took place on 16 June 2009 in Yekaterinburg, the 2nd Summit was held in Brazil on 16 April 2010, the 3rd took place on 14 April 2011 in China and the 4th was held on 29 March 2012 in India.
Cooperation within the G-20 is important both to Russia and Brazil, as both countries see it as the major international ground for discussing economic issues. The heads of BRICS member states met during the G-20 Summit in Cannes (France) in November 2011 and in June 2012 in Los Cabos, Mexico.