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Ministry of External Relations (Brazil)
Encyclopedia
The Ministry of External Relations (Abbreviation
: MRE; ) conducts Brazil
's foreign relations with other countries. It is commonly referred to in Brazilian media and diplomatic jargon as the Itamaraty, after the palace which hosts the ministry (originally in Rio de Janeiro
, and currently in a second-named one in Brasília
). The ministry is currently headed by Chancellor
Antonio Patriota
.
The Ministry of External Relations operates the Rio Branco Institute
and the Alexandre de Gusmão Foundation.
. This moment was not a foreign issue policy of Brazil per se, instead being a pursuit of interests by the Portuguese in their largest colony. There was, however, a notable Brazilian in the diplomatic corp, Alexandre de Gusmão
, who directed the Portuguese foreign policy of trying to separate the Americas from the subject of European sucessions. The height of Gusmão's diplomatic effort was the signing of the Treaty of Madrid of 1750, in which the territorial issues in South America were resolved.
The second relevant historic moment was the transfer of the Portuguese Court to Brazil
in 1808 as a result of the Napoleonic Wars
, when the capital of the Portuguese Empire
and all its bureaucracy
was transferred to Rio de Janeiro. The transfer of the Portuguese Court heavily influenced the Brazilian institutions that would later form.
Finally, there was the participation of the Ministry of External Relations in the process of recognition of Brazilian independence. This moment's relevance surpassed the creation of Brazilian diplomatic institutions and tested for the first time the negotiation skills of Emperor Peter I
's diplomatic corp, who were able to have recognition from all world powers.
From that moment on and since its inception in 1822, the Itamaraty defined some of its basic principles of action such as the pacific resolution of principles and non-intervention. With the conclusion of World War II
and the creation of the United Nations
in 1945 the Ministry consolidated Brazilian presence in international forums.
Notable diplomats in the history of the Itamaraty include the Viscount of Uruguay
, the Baron of Rio Branco and Osvaldo Aranha.
, environmental preservation and the maintenance of peace
. At the same time, it has strengthened its links with the Community of Portuguese-Speaking Countries and has structured itself in order to meet the needs and ambitions of day to day foreign policy concerns.
Brazil currently maintains diplomatic relations with every U.N. member country in the world.
Abbreviation
An abbreviation is a shortened form of a word or phrase. Usually, but not always, it consists of a letter or group of letters taken from the word or phrase...
: MRE; ) conducts Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
's foreign relations with other countries. It is commonly referred to in Brazilian media and diplomatic jargon as the Itamaraty, after the palace which hosts the ministry (originally in Rio de Janeiro
Rio de Janeiro
Rio de Janeiro , commonly referred to simply as Rio, is the capital city of the State of Rio de Janeiro, the second largest city of Brazil, and the third largest metropolitan area and agglomeration in South America, boasting approximately 6.3 million people within the city proper, making it the 6th...
, and currently in a second-named one in Brasília
Brasília
Brasília is the capital city of Brazil. The name is commonly spelled Brasilia in English. The city and its District are located in the Central-West region of the country, along a plateau known as Planalto Central. It has a population of about 2,557,000 as of the 2008 IBGE estimate, making it the...
). The ministry is currently headed by Chancellor
Chancellor
Chancellor is the title of various official positions in the governments of many nations. The original chancellors were the Cancellarii of Roman courts of justice—ushers who sat at the cancelli or lattice work screens of a basilica or law court, which separated the judge and counsel from the...
Antonio Patriota
Antonio Patriota
Antonio de Aguiar Patriota is a Brazilian diplomat and current Minister of External Relations, succeeding Chancellor Celso Amorim...
.
The Ministry of External Relations operates the Rio Branco Institute
Rio Branco Institute
The Rio Branco Institute is a graduate school of International Relations and diplomatic academy located in Brasília, Brazil. The institute was created on April 18, 1945, as part of the centennial celebration of the birth of the Baron of Rio Branco...
and the Alexandre de Gusmão Foundation.
History
The Ministry of External Relations has three relevant moments that defined it as the institution that would be later established. The first one was the signature of the 1750 Spanish-Portuguese treaty, which re-established the borders set in the Treaty of TordesillasTreaty of Tordesillas
The Treaty of Tordesillas , signed at Tordesillas , , divided the newly discovered lands outside Europe between Spain and Portugal along a meridian 370 leagueswest of the Cape Verde islands...
. This moment was not a foreign issue policy of Brazil per se, instead being a pursuit of interests by the Portuguese in their largest colony. There was, however, a notable Brazilian in the diplomatic corp, Alexandre de Gusmão
Alexandre de Gusmão
----Alexandre de Gusmão is regarded as one of the pioneers of Brazilian Diplomacy, chiefly for his role in negotiating the Treaty of Madrid in 1750 , when Portugal and Spain were attempting to delimit their territorial possessions in South America and Asia...
, who directed the Portuguese foreign policy of trying to separate the Americas from the subject of European sucessions. The height of Gusmão's diplomatic effort was the signing of the Treaty of Madrid of 1750, in which the territorial issues in South America were resolved.
The second relevant historic moment was the transfer of the Portuguese Court to Brazil
Transfer of the Portuguese Court to Brazil
The Transfer of the Portuguese Court to Brazil was an episode in the history of Portugal and the history of Brazil in which the Portuguese royal family and its court escaped from Lisbon on November 29, 1807 to Brazil, just days before Napoleonic forces captured the city on December 1...
in 1808 as a result of the Napoleonic Wars
Napoleonic Wars
The Napoleonic Wars were a series of wars declared against Napoleon's French Empire by opposing coalitions that ran from 1803 to 1815. As a continuation of the wars sparked by the French Revolution of 1789, they revolutionised European armies and played out on an unprecedented scale, mainly due to...
, when the capital of the Portuguese Empire
Portuguese Empire
The Portuguese Empire , also known as the Portuguese Overseas Empire or the Portuguese Colonial Empire , was the first global empire in history...
and all its bureaucracy
Bureaucracy
A bureaucracy is an organization of non-elected officials of a governmental or organization who implement the rules, laws, and functions of their institution, and are occasionally characterized by officialism and red tape.-Weberian bureaucracy:...
was transferred to Rio de Janeiro. The transfer of the Portuguese Court heavily influenced the Brazilian institutions that would later form.
Finally, there was the participation of the Ministry of External Relations in the process of recognition of Brazilian independence. This moment's relevance surpassed the creation of Brazilian diplomatic institutions and tested for the first time the negotiation skills of Emperor Peter I
Peter I of Brazil
Dom Pedro I of Brazil , nicknamed "the Liberator" and "the Soldier-King", was the founder and first ruler of the Empire of Brazil and also King of Portugal as Pedro IV, having reigned for eight years in Brazil and two months in Portugal.-Birth:Pedro was born on 12 October 1798, around...
's diplomatic corp, who were able to have recognition from all world powers.
From that moment on and since its inception in 1822, the Itamaraty defined some of its basic principles of action such as the pacific resolution of principles and non-intervention. With the conclusion of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
and the creation of the United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
in 1945 the Ministry consolidated Brazilian presence in international forums.
Notable diplomats in the history of the Itamaraty include the Viscount of Uruguay
Viscount of Uruguay
Paulino José Soares de Sousa, the Viscount of Uruguai , was a congressman, a senator, a State Adviser and a skilful diplomat...
, the Baron of Rio Branco and Osvaldo Aranha.
Foreign policy
The primary objective of the Brazilian foreign ministry is to increase the process of regional integration with Mercosul and other regional and financial bodies. It has also been heavily involved in the discussion of important topics on the international agenda including issues such as the protection of human rightsHuman rights
Human rights are "commonly understood as inalienable fundamental rights to which a person is inherently entitled simply because she or he is a human being." Human rights are thus conceived as universal and egalitarian . These rights may exist as natural rights or as legal rights, in both national...
, environmental preservation and the maintenance of peace
Peace
Peace is a state of harmony characterized by the lack of violent conflict. Commonly understood as the absence of hostility, peace also suggests the existence of healthy or newly healed interpersonal or international relationships, prosperity in matters of social or economic welfare, the...
. At the same time, it has strengthened its links with the Community of Portuguese-Speaking Countries and has structured itself in order to meet the needs and ambitions of day to day foreign policy concerns.
Brazil currently maintains diplomatic relations with every U.N. member country in the world.
Diplomatic missions
Permanent diplomatic missions are meant to carry out representation, negotiation and information activities, as well as the protection of Brazilian interests with governments of other States and international organizations. Brazil has an extensive diplomatic network, consisting of over 250 overseas missions:- 125 Embassies
- 43 Consulates
- 19 Vice-Consulates
- 100+ Honorary Consulates
- 8 DelegationsDiplomatic missionA diplomatic mission is a group of people from one state or an international inter-governmental organisation present in another state to represent the sending state/organisation in the receiving state...
See also
- List of presidential trips made by Dilma Rousseff
- Federal institutions of BrazilFederal institutions of Brazil-Legislative branch:*National Congress, Congresso Nacional*Chamber of Deputies, Câmara dos Deputados*Senate of Brazil, Senado Federal*National Court of Audit, Tribunal de Contas da União -Presidency of Brazil, Presidência da República:...
- Brazilian diplomatic missions
- Foreign relations of BrazilForeign relations of BrazilThe Ministry of External Relations is responsible for managing the foreign relations of Brazil. Brazil is a significant political and economic power in Latin America and a key player on the world stage...
- Community of Portuguese Language Countries
- List of diplomatic missions in Brazil
- Mercosul
- Visa requirements for Brazilian citizensVisa requirements for Brazilian citizensBearers of Brazilian passports are allowed to enter a number of countries without the need of a visa. Mercosul members and some other countries do not even require a passport; a national or state-issued ID card is enough...