Brazil is France's leading trade partner in Latin America and its fourth most important partner outside OECD. Over 500 French companies are established directly in Brazil and employ over 250,000 people. Total trade between the two countries surpassed $6.5 billion dollars in 2009.
Cultural relations
Brazil is France's leading partner in Latin America for cultural, scientific, and technical cooperation. Three French secondary schools have a total of 2,150 students; 1,000 of whom are French. The Alliances françaises in Brazil constitute the oldest and most extensive in the world. Brazil, through its past and present connections to France, is eligible for membership with the Organisation internationale de la Francophonie. Both countries also share the distinction of being the largest Roman Catholic-majoritycountries by population on their respective continents.
Cross-border cooperation
Brazil and France share a 673 km border between the state of Amapá and the overseas department of French Guiana. The cross-border cooperation between the two countries has enjoyed increased vitality. This cooperation makes it possible to better integrate French Guyana into its geographical environment, to respond to the concerns of both parties about the various cross-border risks, to encourage human exchanges and trade and to develop the economy of the Amazon region, respecting the local populations and extraordinary environment. The granting to France, on the initiative of Brazil, of observer status within the Amazon Cooperation Treaty Organization, will strengthen this cooperation. The construction of the Oyapock River Bridge over the Oyapock River, decided during President Lula’s visit to France, made the Cayenne-Macapá road link possible. The bridge was opened in 2017.
Military cooperation
Defence cooperation has undergone major developments in recent years. On July 15, 2005, Brazil and France signed several military cooperation agreements in areas such as aviation and advanced military technologies. On 2008, the two countries entered a Status of Forces Agreement. On 23 December 2008, Brazil and France established a formal strategic alliance. Brazil and France signed a major defense pact on December 24, 2008. At the occasion, the Brazilian government purchased 50 EC-725 Super Cougar helicopters, a nuclear submarine, and four s from the French government worth an estimated $12 billion. Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and French President Nicolas Sarkozy signed an accord approving the sale in Rio de Janeiro. All these contracts come with significant technology transfer and offer considerable participation prospects for the Brazilian industry. The helicopters will be built locally by the Brazilian firm Helibras in partnership with Eurocopter. The four conventional Scorpènes will also be built locally, in a new shipyard being built by Odebrecht and DCNS in Itaguaí, state of Rio de Janeiro. On September 2009, the two countries announced a joint venture between Agrale and Renault Trucks to produce military transport vehicles. In late 2019, it was reported that the Brazilian military viewed France as its biggest potential threat due to disputes over the Amazon rainforest.
Lobster War
When the Brazilian navy moved to intercept French lobster fisherman off the coast of the state of Pernambuco in 1961, the French Navy deployed vessels in response.
Scientific cooperation
France is Brazil’s second-leading scientific partner, after the United States. Brazil is France’s leading scientific partner in Latin America. The two countries cooperate in the areas of climate change, sustainable development, biodiversity, technological innovation and the genome.
