New Delhi, 20 January 2026 – India has shared a long-standing diplomatic relationship with its Latin American counterparts. These relationships are defined not only by quantitative worth but also by the value of trust and cooperation extended by India and Latin American nations. Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Rio De Janeiro for BRICS Summit in 2025 and his engagement with other Latin American leaders emphasises India’s focus on the region. Given the current geopolitical turmoil due to Trump’s uncertain foreign policies and China’s growing strategic footprints in the Americas, these high-level exchanges between India and Latin America become increasingly significant.
The seminar brought together experts from government, academia, diplomatic and strategic community, industry, media, and private businesses across the domain to understand the various aspects of the strategic partnership that has sustained and adapted itself in accordance with the changing geopolitical environment. It was also attended by a galaxy of ambassadors and high commissioners representing majority of Latin American countries.
Welcoming the delegates and participants, Shri Shishir Priyadarshi, President of CRF, stated that when Prime Minister Narendra Modi travelled to Latin America in 2025-first to Brazil for the BRICS Summit, and then to Argentina for bilateral engagements, it marked a recognition that Latin America is central to India’s strategic thinking and its choice of partnerships in the Global South. “This renewed outreach comes at a moment of intense and fast-paced geopolitical, geo-economic and technological transition. Latin America today is navigating uncertainty in U.S. policy, the expanding economic and infrastructural presence of China, and the growing political relevance of the Global South,” he added.
“Latin America and India are two different regions with different landscapes, yet they combine on the elevated complimentary interests. These relationships have elevated strategic partnership which is coincided with South-South Cooperation,” said Mariano Agustín Caucino, Ambassador of Argentina to India, while delivering his address at a seminar organised by Chintan Research Foundation (CRF). He further opined that in the current turbulent geopolitical circumstances and the uncertainties in the US foreign policy actions; it becomes important for the governments of India and Latin American nations to engage proactively with each other. As it happens, the government efforts have significantly reduced the distance and language barriers that were once a major concern during engagements.
Ambassador R. Vishwanathan began his address by connoting historical context of Latin America’s strategic manoeuvre through the difficult times of US-Mexico conflict. He highlighted that it was the joint efforts by the delegations of Argentina, Brazil and Chile that mediated between the two nations and resolved the conflict through peaceful measures. He complimented India’s reformative transformation in terms of investments and India’s practical engagement in the region. Highlighting the exemplary trade figures of India with various Latin American nations, he pointed out the fact that the region holds significant potential in various conventional and emerging areas of economic convergence.
Ambassador Kenneth Félix Haczynski da Nóbrega highlighted that India has become a magnet for many countries and also piqued the interests of many more for investments. Moreover, the current geopolitical churning has also led the countries, especially in the Global South to incline towards proactive efforts of complementarity, which can be witnessed from the consistent missions carried out by both Brazil and India. He also emphasised on the investment flux that can be seen today which has emerged because of the business community’s interests in both nations. Speaking about the ease of doing business, he stated that Latin America and India stand at a point of real engagement led by mutual understanding which will enable them to navigate through the complexities of the time.
Prof. Abdul Nafey, former professor, Centre for the Study of the Americas, SIS, JNU, mentioned that both countries have risen in the consciousness of each other. He also highlighted the scope of South- South Cooperation which binds Latin America and India together. He further stated that the Global South imperative can be understood through the two-fold mechanism of strategic autonomy and urgency for development.
Prof. Priti Singh, Chairperson, Centre for the Study of the Americas, SIS, JNU, emphasised the geopolitical challenges that India faces in the region in terms of the emerging power rearrangement between the US and China. She highlighted the footprints of Chinese investments and increasing trade presence in Latin America. She further underscored the measures taken by the US which reflect as a counter to China rather than the indigenous interest of developing the region. She also mentioned that given this dynamic equation, India faces challenges due to lack of information about the region and understanding of it, and lack of communication.
Dr. Aprajita Kashyap, Associate Professor, Centre for the Study of the Americas, SIS, JNU highlighted the environmental concerns that are shaping the Global South relationships. The renewed strategic relationships have become important due to shared vulnerabilities and converging negotiations which will enhance South-South Cooperation. She further underscored that India and Latin America have parallel climate vulnerabilities which will impact indigenous communities if the environmental changes are not addressed timely. Touching on the topic on supply chains, she emphasised on the necessity of sustainable supply chains.
The delegates also released the CRF Report titled “India’s Multifaceted Ties with Brazil, Argentina, and Chile: Batting for the Global South amidst Global Uncertainties”.
The Seminar, titled “India – Latin America Relations: Emerging Partnerships and the Global South Imperative,” was organised by Chintan Research Foundation (CRF) on January 20, 2026, at New Delhi.
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