Brazil–Spain relations

Following the beginning of the European exploration of the Americas, representatives of the monarchs of Portugal and Spain signed the Treaty of Tordesillas in 1494 which divided between both crowns the newly discovered lands outside of Europe along meridian 370 leagues.[1] After 1580, in the wake of the incorporation of the Kingdom of Portugal to the Hispanic Monarchy (see Iberian Union), the Portuguese overseas territories became part of the Habsburg crown, in which the Council of Portugal came to hold a position of primacy over the viceroy in the polysynodial system through which the monarchy operated (even though below the Council of State).[2] The union lasted until 1640 after the Portuguese Restoration War.[3]

Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff with Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy in Los Cabos, Mexico; 2012

In 1834, Spain recognized the independence of Brazil and both nations established diplomatic relations.[4] Spain soon opened a diplomatic legation in Rio de Janeiro.[5] In 1871, Brazilian Emperor Pedro II visited Spain and met with Spanish King Amadeo I.[6] Beginning in the 1880s until the 1930s, a wave of Spanish migrants arrived to Brazil as it was the only South American nation without immigration quotas at the time. More than 1 million Spanish migrants would arrive to Brazil.[7]

During the Spanish Civil War (1936-1939), 30 Brazilian citizens partook in the fighting for the Second Spanish Republic and formed part of the International Brigade.[8] In 1939, Brazilian President Getúlio Vargas donated 600 tons of coffee beans to Spain which were then sold by General Francisco Franco for 7.5 million pesetas (equivalent to €85 million Euros).[9]

In May 1983, Spanish King Juan Carlos I paid his first visit to Brazil.[10] The King would visit the country three more times before his abdication in 2014. In November 2012, Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff paid an official visit to Spain. The visit was reciprocated in April 2017 by Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy.[4]

Today, more than 15 million Brazilians are of Spanish descent.[5] In 2015, 133,000 Spanish citizens resided in Brazil, making it the fourth biggest Spanish expat community in Latin America. That same year, 130,000 Brazilian citizens resided in Spain.[5]

Brazil hosts a Spain House in Rio de Janeiro and a Spanish Cultural Center in Curitiba,[11][12][13] while Spain hosts a Brazil House in Madrid and a Brazilian Cultural Center in Barcelona.[14][15] In addition, Brazil hosts Institutos Cervantes in Belo Horizonte, Brasília, Curitiba, Porto Alegre, Recife, Rio de Janeiro, Salvador da Bahia and São Paulo, being the country with the largest number of Institutos in the world.[16]

Since 1984, the twinning between the cities of Rio de Janeiro (Brazil) and Santa Cruz de Tenerife (Spain) was established. Mainly, due to the popularity and tourist attraction of its carnivals, which aspire to become an intangible cultural heritage.[17] Likewise, in 2022, tours of flamenco artists to Brazil were promoted.[18]

Both nations have signed numerous agreements and treaties such as an Agreement on the Exchange of Diplomatic Pouches (1919); Agreement on Air Transportation (1949); Cultural Agreement (1960); Migration Agreement (1960); Agreement on the Elimination of Tourist Visas (1965); Agreement on the Avoidance of Double-Taxation (1975); Agreement of Cooperation on the use of Nuclear Energy for Peaceful Purposes (1983); Extradition Treaty (1990); Agreement of Prisoner Exchange (1998); Agreement on Cooperation in the fight against Organized Crime (2007) and a Defense Agreement (2010).[5]

There are direct flights between Brazil and Spain through the following airlines: Air Europa, Iberia and LATAM Brasil.

In 2017, trade between Brazil and Spain totaled €6 billion Euros.[5]

As of 2020, Spain's main exports to Brazil included: fuel and mineral oils; machinery and mechanical appliances; electrical appliances and equipment; other chemical products and organic chemical products; whereas Brazil's exports to Spain included fuels, mineral oil; seeds and oleaginous fruits, industrial plants; ores, slag and ash; cereals and food industry wastes.[19] In 2020, Spain exported goods to Brazil amounting to 2,257.5 million euros (18th largest destination of Spanish exports), whereas Brazil exported goods to Spain amounting to 3,515.4 million euros.[19] In 2020, Spain exported services to Brazil amounting to 733 million dollars (6th largest service provider to Brazil) whereas Brazil exported services to Spain amounting to 280 million dollars.[19]

Spain is Brazil's 16th largest trading partner globally.[5] Spain is Brazil's third largest foreign investor and in 2015, Spain had US$5 billion worth of investments in the country.[4] Brazilian multinational company Embraer operates in Spain. Spanish multinational companies such as Banco Santander, Mapfre, Repsol, Telefónica and Zara operate in Brazil.

• Colégio Miguel de Cervantes
• Immigration to Spain
• Spanish Brazilians
• Spanish immigration to Brazil
• Brazil–European Union relations