Meeting between heads of state, which will take place next Thursday (5) and Friday (6) in Uruguay, will also address Panama’s interest in joining the bloc and Bolivia’s participation in the discussions
The leaders will meet next Thursday (5) and Friday (6) in Uruguay, where they will discuss Argentina’s new diplomatic approach and negotiations for a free trade agreement with the . Furthermore, the meeting will address Panama’s interest in joining the bloc and Bolivia’s participation in the discussions. The Brazilian government expresses concerns regarding the alliance between the Argentine president, , and , fearing that this could negatively impact Mercosur. However, the recent victory of Yamandú Orsi, representative of the center-left in Uruguay, and the economic ties between Brazil and Paraguay could help limit Milei’s influence within the bloc.
Milei has already signaled his intention to reduce the role of the Mercosur Institute of Public Policies and Human Rights (IPPDH) and withdrew the Argentine delegation from international events, such as . Furthermore, it has made it difficult to build consensus at meetings, which raises concerns about the bloc’s unity. The new Uruguayan president, , is considered a strategic partner for Brazil, especially with regard to negotiations with the European Union. counts on the support of the president of the European Commission, to boost the talks, despite France’s opposition to some points of the agreement.
Recently, technical meetings were held between representatives of Mercosur and the EU in Brasília, which showed progress on topics such as environmental issues and government purchases. Experts believe that even if a formal agreement is not reached, the summit in Montevideo could result in significant progress in negotiations. The new political configuration in Uruguay could facilitate the country’s return to Mercosur, after years of attempts to establish bilateral agreements. Panama, in turn, is about to become the first country outside South America to join Mercosur, receiving a status similar to Chile, which could bring new dynamics to the bloc.
*Report produced with the help of AI
Published by Matheus Oliveira
