The Brazilian government has officially launched the “Rotas de Integração Sul-Americana” (South American Integration Routes) program, known as Rotas, through Portaria GM/MPO Nº 26, published in the Diário Oficial da União on Tuesday, January 3, 2026. The initiative aims to coordinate integrated actions and support the formulation and implementation of public policies that will foster the physical, digital, social, environmental, and cultural integration of South American countries.
The Rotas program is designed to articulate the necessary measures for implementing regional integration projects within Brazil and to coordinate with equivalent government bodies in neighboring South American nations. It will also work with international organizations to advance regional integration initiatives and consolidate partnerships for technical studies and applied research related to South American integration.
Program Structure
Rotas is organized around a network of infrastructure projects based on specific approaches, including:
- Multimodal transport systems
- Connectivity and digital and energy integration
- The geoeconomic unity of South America
- Bioceanic corridors
- Border and non-border perspectives within Brazil’s territory
Strategic Routes
The program outlines several strategic corridors, each targeting different geographic and economic linkages:
- Guiana Islands Route: Encompasses the states of Roraima and Amapá, as well as northern Amazonas and Pará, connecting Brazil with French Guiana, Suriname, Guyana, and Venezuela.
- Amazon Route: Follows the Solimões River through Amazonas, linking Brazil to Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru, with access to the Pacific Ocean.
- Rondon Quadrant Route: Covers Acre and Rondônia, and parts of Amazonas, Mato Grosso, and Mato Grosso do Sul, connecting Brazil to Peru, Bolivia, and northern Chile, with access to Pacific ports.
- Capricorn Bioceanic Route: Crosses Mato Grosso do Sul, São Paulo, Paraná, and Santa Catarina, linking Brazil with Paraguay, Argentina, and Chile, creating a corridor between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans.
- Southern Bioceanic Route: Encompasses Rio Grande do Sul and parts of southern Santa Catarina, connecting Brazil with Uruguay, Argentina, and Chile.
Governance and Principles
The Rotas program will be guided by the principles of transversality, good governance, and socio-environmental responsibility. It will operate in alignment with the Interministerial Commission for Infrastructure and Planning for the Integration of South America and other relevant governance bodies.
The official launch of Rotas marks a significant step in Brazil’s efforts to strengthen regional integration and promote sustainable development across South America. The program is expected to facilitate trade, mobility, and cooperation, positioning Brazil as a central hub in the continent’s evolving infrastructure landscape.
Source: Agência Gov
