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Luís Cláudio Villafañe Gomes Santos, diplomat, historian and biographer was born in Rio de Janeiro on September 18, 1960. He holds a bachelor's degree in Geography from the University of Brasilia and a bachelor’s degree in diplomacy from Rio Branco Institute (Brazilian diplomatic academy). He also undertook graduate studies in Political Science at New York University, and received Masters and Doctorate degrees in History from the University of Brasilia.
As a diplomat, he served at the Itamaraty Financial Office in New York (1990-1994), at several Brazilian Embassies including Mexico City (1994-1996), Washington (2000-2003), Montevideo (2003-2006) and Quito (2006-2010). He also served at the Brazilian Mission to the Community of Portuguese-Speaking Countries (2010-2014), in Lisbon. He was Ambassador of Brazil to Nicaragua from 2017 to 2022.
Ambassador Santos was appointed Consul General of Brazil in Atlanta in July 2022. He is the author of several books about Brazil’s foreign relations history. He has published several articles in Brazil, the United States, Europe and Latin America, including one in the collection “História General de América Latina”, published by UNESCO.
He is married to Sabrina Duque and the father of four children.
Brazil-Georgia Bilateral Economic Relations
Brazil is one of Georgia’s most important South American trading partners. More than 40 Brazilian facilities operate in the state, employing over 12,000 Georgians. A significant Brazilian investment in Georgia is JBS Foods, which owns brands like Pilgrim’s Pride and Gold Kist, and employs more than 5,000 Georgians.
In 2021, trade between Georgia and Brazil totaled more than $2.20 billion, with exports totaling $743.9 million and imports from Brazil totaling $1.6 billion.
Georgia exports to Brazil have increased by 154% in the last 20 years, in part due to Georgia’s direct access to the Brazilian market by air and ocean. Georgia and the state of São Paulo are members of the Regional Leaders Summit (RLS), a strategic alliance of seven international regions from four continents fostering the exchange of best practices on topics of mutual interest.”
Brazil-U.S. Economic, Security and Climate Relations
Brazil is the world’s eleventh-largest economy, and the United States is Brazil’s second-largest trading partner. In 2022, two-way trade in goods and services was $120.7 billion. The United States and Brazil seek to expand the bilateral Agreement on Trade and Economic Partnership (ATEC) to spur more trade and investment.
Under the umbrella of the 2015 U.S-Brazil Defense Cooperation Agreement, a range of security cooperation agreements and initiatives promote joint exercises and facilitate sharing of sophisticated capabilities and technologies. Brazil became a Major Non-NATO Ally of the United States in July 2019.
In March 2022, the Brazilian Congress ratified the Research, Development, Test, and Evaluations (RDT&E) - Agreement with the United States, allowing for potential partnerships between U.S. and Brazilian defense technology companies.
Home to more than 60% (one of the world's most important carbon sinks) of the Amazon rainforest, Brazil is committed to ending deforestation by 2030 and reaching net zero emissions by 2050. To aid in this endeavor, the United States currently provides technical and financial support through a variety of means, “including USAID programming, the U.S.-Brazil Energy Forum, and several dialogues focused on the clean energy transition.”
Bicentennial of Diplomatic Relations Between
Brazil and the United States
The U.S. Department of State and Brazil's Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced on January 31st, 2024 the beginning of a year of celebrations marking the 200th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between our two countries. The celebrations will highlight the strong political, economic, and cultural ties between the United States and Brazil, two of the world's most diverse and thriving democracies, as emphasized during the meetings of Presidents Lula and Biden in Washington on February 10, 2023, and in New York on September 20, 2023..
On May 26, 1824, the two countries established diplomatic relations with the U.S. recognition of Brazil's independence. In the 21st century, the bilateral partnership continues to deliver for both peoples, as evidenced by the dynamism of economic and trade relations, technological exchange, important cooperation on energy and the environment, prioritization of social issues, and renewal of important bilateral dialogue mechanisms throughout 2023. The announcement of the Brazil-U.S. Partnership for Workers' Rights by Presidents Lula and Biden also highlights the robust bilateral relationship.
Diplomatic Dialogue 2024 Host
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