Why Africa? Motives for Brazil’s Africa Engagement

As has been shown in the last chapter, Brazil’s engagement in Africa was mainly driven by the government and required great effort by the Lula administration. While the official discourse tried to frame Africa as a natural partner of Brazil, the Lula government faced strong opposition by the political and economic elite that was almost exclusively oriented toward the United States and Europe at that time. Taking into account the Lula government’s great endeavor to engage Brazil in Africa, the question arises why Brazil has put so much effort in gaining presence in Africa. Why did Brazil invest in the political and economic rapprochement with Africa despite the fact that other world regions were economically much more important to it? Looking behind the official Brazilian discourse of cultural affinity and diplomatic goodwill, the present chapter will take a look at the motives and interests that have driven Brazil’s Africa policy.