Brasília and Rio de Janeiro (4 – 8 May 2026) – “It was with a feeling of returning home and reconnecting with my roots that I travelled in early May to Brazil´s capital, Brasília, for a week filled with high-level meetings and faces new and familiar.
This was my first official mission to Brasília since taking office as Secretary-General of the International Seabed Authority in January 2025. Brazil and the ISA share deep historical ties, and one of my main objectives during this visit was to renew and strengthen that relationship.
I had the opportunity to hold bilateral meetings with several Ministers, and, during those discussions, I emphasized that the ISA is an international governance body with a broad mandate across institutional, legal, environmental, scientific, economic, and capacity-building dimensions, all rooted in our regulatory mandate.
It was a privilege to reaffirm that the Area and its resources are the common heritage of humankind, and to highlight the importance of ensuring that the ISA is fully equipped to deliver on the responsibilities under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
At a time when concerns have emerged regarding possible unilateral approaches to activities in the Area, the mission provided an important opportunity to reaffirm the centrality of multilateralism and of the ISA framework under UNCLOS.
Throughout my engagements, I emphasized that the ISA is entering a decisive phase that goes beyond the conclusion and adoption of the Mining Code: we are working to consolidate a governance architecture that will ensure that any activity in the Area is guided by clear rules, rigorous environmental safeguards, transparency and effective international oversight; not to mention the importance of complementarity with the BBNJ agreement.
During my meeting with Brazil’s Minister of Defense, H.E. José Múcio, we discussed Brazil’s important role in the Global South, at a time when the country holds the presidency of the Zone of Peace and Cooperation of the South Atlantic, ZOPACAS. We also exchanged views on the importance of Brazil’s maritime security and how the geoeconomics of critical minerals, together with the need to safeguard multilateralism, should be part of a strategic agenda for the country.
The possibility of Brazil re-engaging more actively with the ISA framework, including through renewed strategic consideration of opportunities under the regime of the Area, was discussed. I indicated that the ISA Secretariat would remain available to provide institutional and technical information, should Brazil decide to examine such options.
My next bilateral meeting was beyond special to me: at his office, the Minister of Fisheries and Aquiculture, H.E. Mr. Édipo Araújo, presented me with the Women of the Waters Award, next to the Minister of Agriculture, H.E. Mr. André de Paula. Although I had received an Honorable Mention during the official ceremony in March, I was truly happy to finally hold the award in my hands. It was a moment to pay homage to all Brazilian women who dedicate their lives to protect and sustain our oceans and freshwater, especially the ones working in artisanal fisheries, a sector that makes a significant contribution to Brazil´s GDP according to Minister Araújo.
The Minister of Fisheries and I exchanged information on capacity-building initiatives both at the ISA and government levels. I left the meeting with a sense of gratitude, knowing that our cooperation is likely to grow further, as Mr. Araújo expressed enthusiasm for our programmes supporting women in deep-sea research, especially the S.H.E. – See Her Exceed initiative.
My visit to the Ministry of Environment truly felt like returning home. I was born in Rio de Janeiro and moved to Brasília with my family as a teenager. A huge part of my professional journey was built at the Ministry of Environment, an institution that I have a profound respect for and where many longtime colleagues still work today.
Returning there with my delegation as Secretary-General of the ISA and having the opportunity to sit alongside H.E. Mr. João Paulo Capobianco, was an honor. His Ministry has a history of contributions to biodiversity protection, sustainable development, and ocean science.
We exchanged views on the ongoing international debate regarding precaution, environmental safeguards and calls for a precautionary pause.
I had the opportunity to explain that member States of the ISA are working to develop a robust and environmentally responsible Mining Code to govern any future activities in the Area, as envisaged under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. During the meeting, I also had the pleasure of presenting the Minister with a special hard-copy edition of the Convention – a gift that I presented to all Ministers.
At the Ministry of Mines and Energy, I was welcomed by Mr. Luís Guilherme Parga Cintra, Head of the Office for International Affairs. We discussed Brazil’s historical engagement with the ISA, the strategic relevance of the Area in the broader context of critical minerals and the importance of maintaining a coordinated interministerial dialogue on any future Brazilian engagement with the ISA framework. We also exchanged views on the importance of multilateral governance and on the benefit-sharing mechanism under the common heritage of humankind framework.
During those same days in Brasília, Brazil´s Chamber of Deputies approved a bill related to the country´s rare earths. The proposed bill will now move to the Senate for discussion, making the timing of my high-level meetings there very relevant.
Speaking of the Senate, it was a pleasure to meet with Senator Nelsinho Trad, President of the Senate´s Commission on Foreign Affairs and National Defense. The last time an ISA Secretary-General engaged with this Commission was in 2008, so I was very glad to have the opportunity to help build our relationship.
I encouraged members of the Commission to consider closer engagement with the ISA, including through participation in relevant institutional meetings in Kingston. Senator Trad noted that the negotiations on the Mining Code are strategically important, adding that he is personally engaged in these discussions and intends to deepen his understanding of the topic. He expressed his willingness to advance the cooperation with the ISA, and I am looking forward to continuing the conversation with his office in the coming months.
My next stop was my hometown, Rio de Janeiro, the city that first made me fall in love with the ocean and its deep mysteries. I was honored to be invited as a guest speaker at the Annual Magna Meeting of the Brazilian Academy of Sciences (ABC), which this year had the theme “The Ocean of Tomorrow.” On 7 May, following a warm welcome from ABC President Ms. Helena Nader, I had the opportunity to address a room filled with scientists from Brazil and abroad on the importance of science in supporting the mandate of the International Seabed Authority.
On the stage of the Museum of Tomorrow, I was delighted to share my views on the pressure facing our oceans, on the importance of ocean governance and how science plays a critical role in supporting informed policy decisions. I was able to highlight several science-based initiatives led by ISA, including DeepData, Area2030, S.H.E., Deep-Sea Biobank and the One Thousand Reasons campaign. I extended a direct invitation to the Brazilian Academy of Sciences and to scientists across Brazil and the Global South to work alongside ISA, because the oceans are one system, but its governance is a shared duty.
Less than 24 hours after arriving in Rio de Janeiro, I was already back in Brasília for the final day of my mission. On 8 May, I had the pleasure of being kindly received at Planalto Palace by Brazil’s First Lady, Rosângela “Janja” Lula da Silva.
We talked about how the First Lady could engage with the ISA’s See Her Exceed, S.H.E. mentorship initiative for women scientists. What an exciting prospect! From Planalto Palace, I went straight to Itamaraty Palace, home of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Brazil. I had also been there a few days earlier to meet with the Ministry´s Secretary-General, Ambassador Maria Laura da Rocha, to express appreciation for Brazil’s longstanding engagement with the ISA and for its support to the strengthening of the Authority.
Our discussion focused on the principle of equitable benefit-sharing, the ongoing Mining Code negotiations, and the importance of ensuring that the work of the ISA benefits all developing States. I was very pleased to hear Ambassador Maria Laura da Rocha reaffirming Brazil’s willingness to maintain an open dialogue with ISA.
With the Minister of Foreign Affairs, H.E. Mr. Mauro Vieira, I had the opportunity to share an overview of the meetings I held throughout the week with his counterparts in the Brazilian government. I highlighted Brazil´s historical role in supporting and strengthening the ISA mandate and we discussed how Brazil, as a leading voice in the Global South, can play an important role in the ongoing discussions of the governance architecture of the Area.
I ended this fulfilling week in Brazil with an emotional engagement: I was invited by the Rio Branco Institute, the country’s very respected and traditional diplomatic academy, to speak to the next generation of Brazilian diplomats.
I chose to take a different approach from a traditional lecture. Aware of the responsibility that comes with speaking to young diplomats at the beginning of their journeys, I decided to share both my personal and professional path: from being a little girl in Rio de Janeiro fascinated by the ocean to becoming the first woman and first Latin American to ever lead the International Seabed Authority.
I spoke openly about my journey, including the achievements, the difficult moments, the deeply challenging days that I have faced, and the rewards of seeking a career of purpose. Seeing how those reflections resonated with the students left me with a profound sense of pride and hope. It reminded me that, just as I once did, they too will learn to step into roles that might feel bigger than themselves.
I left Brazil believing that those future diplomats fully understand the importance of their own role in shaping the future of ocean governance and in becoming an active voice in the fight for our oceans. These are the moments that remind me of why I must wake up each day to give my very best and always stay true to one’s integrity. I am so happy to have had this mission (and get a fleeting glimpse of my parents!).”
Leticia Carvalho,
Secretary-General of the International Seabed Authority