JOINT STATEMENT BY THE PRESIDENTS OF THE FEDERATIVE REPUBLIC OF BRAZIL AND THE REPUBLIC OF SURINAME

(BRASÍLIA, May 28, 2026)
At the invitation of the President of the Federative Republic of Brazil, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, the President of the Republic of Suriname, Jennifer Simons, paid an official visit to Brazil in the period of May 28 and 29 2026, accompanied by a high-level delegation, during which they addressed the main issues on the bilateral, regional, and international agendas.
Acknowledging the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries, both Presidents commemorated the historic moment of bilateral cooperation and expressed satisfaction with the current level of cooperation and noted the potential for even greater collaboration between their two countries. They also emphasized that the visit provides an opportunity to review joint cooperation projects, consolidate recent achievements, and define new priorities.
As a result of the meeting, the Presidents decided to deepen the bilateral partnership and, to that end:

1. Highlighted the importance of cooperation as a strategic pillar of the bilateral relationship between the Republic of Suriname and the Federative Republic of Brazil, especially in the following areas: Political Consultations; Economic Cooperation; Trade and Investments; Energy, Oil & Gas and Renewable Energy Transition; Agriculture and Food Security; Transportation Infrastructure and Connectivity; Education and Capacity Building; Natural Resources and Environment; Tourism; Defense, Safety and Security Cooperation, including combatting transnational organized crime; Consular and Migration issues; Regional Integration and Institutions; Arts, Culture, Youth and Sports; and Science, Technology and Innovation;
2. Agreed, for that end, to establish a Joint Commission between the Ministries of Foreign Affairs as a follow-up mechanism to further strengthen political dialogue and diplomatic engagement; urged sectoral ministries and technical institutions to maintain regular consultations and high-level exchanges in strategic areas identified by both Governments;
3. Expressed interest in intensifying economic and trade relations, and acknowledged the progress achieved by the Joint Bilateral Negotiation Commission, with regard to assessing possibilities beyond the Partial Scope Agreement (PSA-41); reaffirmed their commitment to launching trade negotiations aimed at a new and more comprehensive trade agreement, to better reflect the full potential of strong ties between the two economies;
4. Emphasized that the new agreement — of which the Terms of Reference (ToR) for the negotiations were established and signed during the visit—will bring mutual benefits and reduce asymmetries by fostering trade, integration of value chains, and bilateral investments; reiterated that this agenda is based on a shared commitment to building a solid, diversified relationship oriented toward regional integration;
5. Recommended that, with regard to agricultural trade, diplomatic, tariff, sanitary, and phytosanitary authorities of both countries strengthen dialogue in order to resolve pending issues and enable the entry of new agricultural products into their markets, thereby promoting the expansion of bilateral trade and enhancing food and nutritional security;
6. Highlighted the potential for cooperation in tropical agriculture, with a view to promoting sustainable development in rural areas and bridging gaps between productive sectors in both countries;
7. Underscored the importance of strengthening ties between the private sectors of both countries as a means of promoting bilateral trade and investment, and acknowledged, in this regard, the contribution of the Brazil–Suriname Business Meeting, coordinated by the Department of Trade Promotion, Investments and Agriculture of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (DPRA/MRE) and the Directorate of International Business of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, International Business and Cooperation of Suriname (BIS), as well as the meeting on energy cooperation with the participation of the Surinamese Government, Staatsolie, Petrobras and the Brazilian Institute of Oil, Gas and Biofuels (IBP), both held in Brasilia, on May 28, during the presidential visit;
8. Emphasized the importance of moving forward with initiatives in energy cooperation, the promotion of renewable energy, and emergency preparedness in hydrocarbon exploration, in alignment with the sustainable development goals, including under the 2024 Memorandum of Understanding between Petrobras and Staatsolie;
9. Recognized the opportunities for regional energy integration and, in this regard, mandated their respective teams to resume discussions, in coordination with Guyana and France, on the Arco Norte Project, an initiative to connect the electricity grids of Brazil, Suriname, Guyana, and French Guiana; and on the possibility of developing gas infrastructure;
10. Recognized that maritime routes constitute a strategic axis for deepening integration, enhancing connectivity, and boosting trade between the countries and the region; underscored the importance of establishing direct and regular maritime connections between Brazil and Suriname; welcomed the signing of the Letter of Intent on Maritime Transport and Related Port Activities; and agreed to instruct technical areas teams of their governments to study the creation of mechanisms with a view to addressing the trade carried out by small vessels between the two countries;
11. Agreed on the importance of improving road interconnection between the countries of the Guiana Shield, strengthening the indirect road link between Brazil and Suriname through the modernization of the road connection between the Brazilian state of Amapá and French Guiana, the paving of the Linden–Lethem road between the Brazilian state of Roraima and Guyana, and the construction of the bridge over the Corentyne Corantijn River on the Suriname–Guyana border, projects related to the implementation of the Route 1 of South American Integration – the Guiana “Island” Route;
12. Encouraged that cooperation be stablished between Brazil’s National Civil Aviation Agency (ANAC) and the Suriname’s Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASAS);
    12bis. Welcomed the signing of the Record of Discussions Between the Ministries of Defense of Suriname and Brazil in which both sides expressed their mutual intention to expand cooperation, including in the field of air traffic service training, for Surinamese military and civil air traffic controllers;
13. Renewed their commitment to strengthening bilateral cooperation against transnational organized crime, especially against drug, arms, and human trafficking, as well as against illegal mining and environmental crimes;
14. Emphasized their commitment to enhancing operational cooperation between law enforcement agencies through the swift exchange of information, the conduct of joint operations to identify and detain individuals involved in criminal organizations operating in both countries, and the negotiation of specific bilateral cooperation instruments;
15. Welcomed, in this regard, the signing of the Bilateral Cooperation Agreement to Strengthen the Fight against Trafficking in Persons, the Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation on Cybersecurity, as well as the updating of the Memorandum of Understanding for Interinstitutional Cooperation between the Brazilian Federal Police and the Korps Politie Suriname (KPS);
16. Expressed concern about the magnitude and scope of environmental crimes in the Amazon region, particularly wildlife trafficking, and illegal mining; recalled the Amazon International Police Cooperation Centre (CCPI) in Manaus as a coordination mechanism for joint law enforcement efforts to protect the Amazon region; agreed on the need to strengthen international cooperation and the global regulatory framework on the issue through, inter alia, negotiating additional protocols to the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime (UNTOC) in order to improve prevention, investigation, and prosecution of such illicit activities;
17. Emphasized the importance of advancing collaborative gold traceability efforts, including initiatives such as Programa Ouro Alvo (POA), to promote responsible and transparent sourcing practices, deter illegal trade and financial misconduct, minimize environmental degradation, and ensure adherence to international standards applicable to the gold supply chain; the President further acknowledged the significant risks associated with the use of mercury in gold production, and stressed the need to adopt safer, environmentally sustainable alternatives in extraction and processing activities.
18. Noted with satisfaction recent initiatives to prevent and combat transnational crimes, including environmental crimes, carried out within the framework of the Special Commission on Public Security and Transboundary and Transnational Illicit Activities of the Amazon Cooperation Treaty Organization (ACTO) and its subcommittees;
19. Welcomed the positive bilateral relations in defense matters; reiterated their commitment to the defense cooperation agenda, particularly regarding military capacity building and training;
20. Announced Brazil’s promulgation of the Agreement on Cooperation in Defense, signed in 2008, and welcomed the signing of the amendment to that agreement;
21. Expressed their willingness to work together with the relevant institutions, agencies, and the private sector, as applicable, to develop solutions to enhance border and airspace surveillance in both countries; welcomed the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding for Conducting Mirrored Military Operations along the Border Zone between their Ministries of Defense, as well as the signing of agreements between the Government of Suriname and Embraer in the fields of aviation, defense and security solutions.
22. Recognized the cross-cutting nature and importance of science, technology, and innovation for environmentally sustainable and socially inclusive economic development, as well as for enhancing a more competitive integration of developing countries into the global economy; in this regard, they welcomed the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding on Science, Technology, and Innovation, which will raise the profile of bilateral cooperation in this area;
23. Agreed to enhance the dialogue on satellite monitoring of forests through a partnership between Brazil’s National Institute for Space Research (INPE) and Suriname’s Foundation for Forest Management and Production Control (SBB);
24. Expressed interest in boosting the benefits of connectivity and of information and communication technologies as tools for bridging digital divides, particularly in the Amazon region, through public and regulatory policies focused on significant digital inclusion of people; in this regard, they highlighted the Memorandum of Understanding between Brazil’s National Telecommunications Agency (Anatel) and the Telecommunication Authority Suriname (TAS) and the relationship of cooperation and partnership between both agencies;
25. Recognized the importance of academic mobility for strengthening human ties between the two nations, for promoting mutually beneficial development, and for training and capacity-building; and encouraged the strengthening of this area of cooperation, emphasizing the importance of the Brazilian Program for Exchange Students – Undergraduate Level (PEC-G), Brazilian Program for Exchange Students – Postgraduate Level (PEC-PG), and the Portuguese as a Foreign Language Program (PEC-PLE) and student exchange with other institutions, including Instituto Rio Branco (IRBr);
26. Reaffirmed their commitment to intensifying cultural cooperation, recognizing initiatives such as the translation into Portuguese of the books “The Cost of Sugar” and “On a Woman’s Madness”, by the respective Surinamese authors Cynthia McLeod and Astrid Roemer, as examples of the potential of artistic and literary exchange as a means of fostering even closer ties between the two countries;
27. Determined to deepen cooperation in health, with a view to institutional strengthening and the progressive universalization of access to health services;
28. Agreed to coordinate responses to common health challenges, through the exchange of knowledge and best practices, as well as the development of technical and institutional capacities, including the continuous training of health professionals at all levels of care; and reaffirmed their commitment to consolidating resilient, sustainable, and people-centered public health systems, with a focus on strengthening primary care;
29. President Lula congratulated Suriname on its certification as a malaria-free country, granted by the World Health Organization in June 2025, a significant milestone for regional public health; both Presidents committed to preserving this achievement through the strengthening of epidemiological surveillance, primary health care, and cross-border cooperation, thereby preventing the reintroduction of the disease, particularly in border areas;
30. Reaffirmed the importance of strengthening health of Indigenous populations, and traditional and local communities, with a differentiated and intercultural approach, especially in border regions, by promoting timely access to quality health services, respecting traditional knowledge, and expanding joint actions for disease prevention, immunization, and control; and also agreed to increase cooperation in immunization, in addressing neglected diseases, and in preparedness for and response to health emergencies, with special attention to populations in remote and hard-to-reach areas;
31. Agreed to deepen the exchange of experiences on public policies related to family farming, food supply, and the protection and appreciation of Indigenous peoples, traditional and local communities, women, youth, and Afro-descendant populations, including actions on social protection, food security, and productive inclusion;
32. President Simons recognized Brazil’s longstanding experience with housing policies, including the Minha Casa, Minha Vida program, and Presidente Lula agreed to share experiences with Suriname as to its implementation and possible replication, adapted to Suriname’s social, economic and legal reality, among others, the internal program rules and administrative process and also the construction of the required software application for the adequate processing of received applications.
33. Emphasized their commitment to promoting gender equality and women’s empowerment and recognized the progress achieved by both countries in this area; underscored that Brazil and Suriname consider combating violence against girls and women as one of the priority areas of the national gender policy; and welcomed the initiative by the Brazilian Embassy in Paramaribo, in partnership with local institutions, to establish the Women of Brazil Group – Suriname Chapter, which addresses the prevention of domestic violence, among other issues;
34. Reaffirmed their commitment to the bilateral cooperation program and to advancing the eight projects under implementation in the areas of agriculture, food security, school feeding, health, diplomatic training, and cybersecurity, in the context of the celebration of the 50th anniversary of the signing of the Basic Agreement on Scientific and Technical Cooperation between Brazil and Suriname;
35. Welcomed the results of the Second Meeting for Monitoring and Evaluation of the Bilateral Cooperation Program, held in March 2026 in Paramaribo.
36. Welcomed the signing of the Memoranda of Understanding on Cooperation for Development in (i) the Social Sector, (ii) Public Health, (iii) Comprehensive Disaster Risk Management, and (iv) Integrated Fire Management – new areas of cooperation identified during the Second Meeting for Monitoring and Evaluation of the Bilateral Cooperation Program;
37. Noted the positive impact of trilateral South-South cooperation initiatives, implemented with the support of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the Amazon Cooperation Treaty Organization (ACTO), to promote development and improve national policies and programs on sustainable school feeding, as well as the joint management of water resources;
38. President Simons expressed her gratitude for the humanitarian cooperation received from Brazil, including the most recent support to address the dengue and chikungunya outbreak in Suriname, through donations in April 2026 of supplies for vector control, as well as the donations of 100 thousand doses of Pneumococcal vaccines, 1500 COVID-19 rapid tests and antimalarial medication in May 2026;
39. Recognized the importance of migration issues and the protection of communities abroad, the Heads of State agreed to deepen dialogue and cooperation within the Working Group on Migration and Consular Affairs, which will convene its third meeting in 2026 to address issues such as legal cooperation, documentation, and assistance to Brazilian and Surinamese citizens, particularly those in situations of economic and migratory vulnerability;
40. Renewed their commitment to strengthening regional integration through mechanisms and organizations such as the Brasília Consensus, the Amazon Cooperation Treaty Organization (ACTO), the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC), and the Organization of American States (OAS);
41. Reiterated that the full exercise of sovereignty by Latin American and Caribbean States is an essential condition for building a prosperous, secure, stable, and democratic region, reaffirming their commitment to the proclamation of Latin America and the Caribbean as a Zone of Peace, based on strict respect for international law, sovereign equality of States, non-interference in internal affairs, prohibition of the threat or use of force, and the peaceful settlement of disputes;
42. Emphasized the importance of mobilizing international financial and technical assistance and promoting a regionally oriented climate agenda; and reiterated, in this regard, their support for ACTO and pledged to further strengthen cooperation on issues related to biodiversity conservation, sustainable development, and combating deforestation in the Amazon region;
43. Welcomed the holding of the Brazil–Caribbean Summit in Brasília on June 13, 2025, which provided an opportunity to strengthen channels of dialogue and cooperation, as well as to address issues such as food security, climate change, and connectivity; and referred to the agreement reached on that occasion that established that a Brazil–Caribbean Forum should meet every two or three years at ministerial level, with a view to achieving concrete results in chosen areas;
44. Reiterated their firm commitment to strengthening multilateralism and building a more just, inclusive, and representative international order;
45. Emphasized their strong commitment to the defense of democracy and democratic principles, as well to good governance and the rule of law, to the promotion and protection of all human rights and fundamental freedoms, and to combating all forms of discrimination;
46. Reiterated their rejection of the threat or use of force and condemned the imposition of unilateral, unlawful, and illegitimate coercive measures that affront the independence and sovereignty of States, expressing concern over serious violations of the United Nations Charter and international law; and underscored that diplomacy and dialogue remain the most effective instruments for the peaceful and sustainable settlement of disputes and the maintenance of international peace and security, reaffirming the shared commitment of Brazil and Suriname to multilateralism, with the United Nations at its core;
47. Emphasized the need for a comprehensive and profound reform of the United Nations, in order to adapt the Organization to the challenges and realities of the 21st century and to promote greater and more effective participation of developing countries in its decision-making bodies; and, highlighted, in this regard, the urgency of Security Council reform to make it more representative, legitimate, and effective, with greater participation of developing countries in both categories of membership; President Lula expressed gratitude to President Jennifer Simons for reiterating Suriname’s support for Brazil’s aspiration to hold a permanent seat on a reformed Security Council;
48. Reaffirmed their conviction that it is timely and appropriate for a national of a Latin American and Caribbean State to once again hold the position of Secretary-General of the United Nations, after a 35-year hiatus, recalling that the position has never been held by a woman;
49. Welcomed the outcomes of the 30th Conference of the Parties (COP30) to the United Nations Framework Convention of Climate Change (UNFCCC) at Belém, Brazil, the first major multilateral conference to be hosted in the Amazon; and renewed their unwavering commitment to the climate regime and their determination to pursue concrete progress across its five pillars: mitigation, adaptation, finance, technology, and capacity-building;
50. Expressed their commitment to the implementation of their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) as a means of strengthening global climate action, and of advancing in issues that are a priority for the region, such as the scaling up of finance to unlock and accelerate just transitions towards low carbon and climate resilient pathways;
51. President Lula thanked Suriname for endorsing the Belém Health Action Plan, launched at COP30, and both Presidents reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening the adaptation, preparedness, and response capacity of their health systems to the impacts of climate change;
52. Recognized the relevance of gender, race, and ethnicity to the global development agenda, particularly for promoting a more just, equitable, and sustainable world; President Lula expressed appreciation to Suriname for endorsing the Belém Declaration on Fighting Environmental Racism;
53. Reiterated their commitment to the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and to strengthening spaces for Indigenous participation, particularly the Amazonian Indigenous Peoples Mechanism of the Amazon Cooperation Treaty Organization; and agreed on the importance of promoting the exchange of experiences and best practices for the promotion and protection of the rights of Indigenous Peoples and of seeking forms of cooperating towards the protection of Indigenous lands and territories;
54. Expressed support for the establishment of the South Atlantic Whale Sanctuary and praised cooperation within the management plans of the International Whaling Commission;
55. Expressed support for the Global Alliance against Hunger and Poverty, launched in November 2024, and highlighted its relevance as an instrument for cooperation and resource mobilization to implement effective public policies; and agreed to explore joint initiatives within its framework, including the exchange of best practices, institutional strengthening, and actions related to social protection, food and nutritional security, and inclusive rural development;
56. President Simons congratulated President Lula on Brazil’s significant progress in combating hunger and food insecurity, reflected in the country’s removal from the Hunger Map for the second time in July 2025; President Simons commended the Brazilian Government’s sustained efforts and social policies, and expresses Suriname’s interest in strengthening cooperation with Brazil to learn from its successful experiences and best practices in addressing hunger and poverty;
57. Highlighted the Amazon Strategy for Food and Nutritional Sovereignty and Security within the framework of ACTO, and expressed their willingness to assess opportunities for technical cooperation to strengthen sustainable food systems in the Amazon region, respecting traditional knowledge and promoting healthy diets, sustainable production, and climate resilience;
58. Underscored the strategic role of school feeding as a structuring policy for food and nutritional security, education, and local agricultural development; and welcomed, in this regard, the active participation of both countries in the School Meals Coalition and the Sustainable School Feeding Network, stressing the potential of these platforms to strengthen sustainable and inclusive food systems in our region.
    At the conclusion of the official visit, President Jennifer Simons expressed her appreciation to President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva for the warm hospitality which was extended to herself and her delegation while in Brazil. Both Presidents also expressed their confidence that the meeting will lend the necessary impetus to the strengthening of the ties of friendship and cooperation between Brazil and Suriname.