The Brazilian Center for International Relations (CEBRI) participated in the GIBSA 2026 Conference, titled “Navigating the ‘Brave New World’,” held from September 7 to 10 in Munich and at Banz Abbey, Germany. The delegation consisted of Manoel Corrêa do Lago, Consultant at CEBRI; Marianna Albuquerque, Senior Fellow at CEBRI and Professor at UFRJ; and Ariane Costa, Projects Deputy Director. During the event, the representatives took part in four roundtables alongside experts from the Institute for Security Studies (ISS) in South Africa, the Stiftung Wissenschaft und Politik (SWP) in Germany, and the Institute of Peace and Conflict Studies (IPCS) in India.
The program began at the Bavarian State Parliament, with Manoel Corrêa do Lago participating in the panel "The Role of Provincial and Local Authorities in International Relations." The debate addressed the growing international engagement of states and municipalities—through representative offices, sister-city agreements, and international networks—and discussed the limits and possibilities of this subnational diplomacy amidst great-power rivalry. CEBRI’s contribution brought the Brazilian experience to the discussion, engaging with African, Asian, and European perspectives.
At Banz Abbey, Marianna Albuquerque participated in the panel "Critical Raw Materials," which focused on the strategic role of these resources in a landscape of intensifying geoeconomic competition. The discussion covered China’s control over rare earth elements, European diversification strategies, and opportunities for resource-rich countries like Brazil to attract investment in processing and move up global value chains.
Next, Ariane Costa represented CEBRI on the panel "How to Deal with Donald Trump?", which discussed the impacts of the U.S. president's second term, characterized by the imposition of tariffs and a more confrontational stance from Washington. The panel brought together African, Asian, European, and Latin American perspectives on the challenges posed by U.S. foreign policy.
The program concluded with the panel "A World Divided into Spheres of Influence?", chaired by Marianna Albuquerque. The debate examined the consolidation of spheres of influence around major powers and the challenges facing countries in the GIBSA network within an increasingly fragmented international order, including the potential for cooperation among middle powers like Brazil.
At the close of the conference, the CEBRI delegation joined other institutions in the network to discuss the future of the GIBSA partnership and plan the 2027 conference. The meeting also provided an opportunity to evaluate the results of the current edition and define priority themes for the agenda in the coming years. Over the course of the four days, CEBRI’s activities strengthened its international presence and expanded exchanges with institutions from Germany, India, and South Africa.
