With the accession of Queen Elizabeth II’s successor, King Charles III – who died this Thursday (9/8), aged 96 – the UK maintains good relations with Brazil. Measures to protect the environment should also be strengthened, as the new monarch is dedicated to the cause. Also, in this regard, Minas Gerais will also be favored because of the partnership signed with the British in the area of environmental sustainability.
“The (English) royal family has always had a very special affection for Brazil. I’m sure it will continue,” says Lucas Browne. He recalled that Queen Elizabeth’s message to the Brazilian government, celebrating the bicentennial of Brazil’s independence (September 7), showed royal affection for the country. The demonstration was one of the last messages the Queen issued.
The embassy recalled that King Charles III has already visited Brazil several times, the last time in 2009. He points out that the new head of the United Kingdom’s throne is an “environmental champion” who has already dedicated most of it. Your life is about environmental sustainability.
“On this issue, Minas Gerais stood out internationally in terms of its partnership with the United Kingdom”, Brown observes.
In June 2021, Minas Gerais, the first state in Latin America and the Caribbean, signed an agreement with the United Kingdom for the Race to Zero campaign, a campaign aimed at zero net carbon emissions. 2050. The proposal was inserted at the United Nations Conference on Climate Change (COP 26) held in Glasgow (Scotland) in November 2021.
The representative of the United Kingdom said Minas Gerais’ “pioneering spirit” had a major impact, leading other states to join the Race to Zero campaign.
During COP26, Secretary of State for the Environment Marlia Melo and then President of the Minas Development Bank, based on the diplomatic partnership on the “Climate and Sustainable Economic Development Agenda between Minas Gerais and the United Kingdom”. Gerais (BDMG), Srgio Gusmo, participated in a special meeting of state and municipal governments with the then prince and current king Charles.
“It (the environment) will certainly be a priority theme for King Charles. Therefore, Brazil will continue to be a priority country for the United Kingdom. And, particularly on the climate agenda, Minas Gerais will be a priority for the British government through the British Consulate in Belo Horizonte, which I lead,” declared Lucas Browne.
“The areas in which I work, such as international trade, science, innovation and, of course, climate, will certainly continue. I am confident that relations between the two countries will be even closer. My message is that the presence of the British Consulate in Minas Gerais is a testament to our long-term commitment to the state. Minas Gerais “We can count on the partnership and support of the United Kingdom,” he assured.
He stressed that trade negotiations and the climate issue were part of the UK’s relationship strategy not just with Brazil, but “with the whole world”. “The UK is prioritizing the energy transition towards an economy with low carbon emissions into the atmosphere, which is the biggest opportunity (for business in the clean energy generation sector) of this century,” he added.
Foreign trade expert Welber Barrel also pointed out that Brazil should maintain good trade relations with England after the accession of King Charles III. “The relationship between the United Kingdom and Brazil is very traditional since (our) independence,” says Peral, from Montes Claros, north of Minas Gerais.
Greater possibility of future negotiations with Mercosur
“Basically, there has always been an effort to bring the two countries closer together. British investment in Brazil is high. On the other hand, many Brazilian banks have representation in London. So there have been no major changes recently,” he says.
“With Brexit (the United Kingdom’s exit from the European Union) there has been a huge change. With that, there is more opportunity for future negotiations between Mercosur and the United Kingdom. But this is not in the short term,” he assured, appointed as arbitrator for Britain’s new Brexit dispute settlement system.
There is a “huge list of exports” from Brazil to the UK, the expert says, above all involving agribusiness. “Brazil exports a lot of meat, a lot of food, soy, iron ore to the UK and imports a lot of services,” says Barrell.
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