At the first face-to-face meeting of Mercosur heads of state, in Asunción, Paraguay, there was clear friction between the presidents of Argentina, Alberto Fernández, and that of Uruguay, Luis Lacalle Pou. At the heart of the conflict is the Uruguayan’s intention to close a free trade agreement with China, regardless of the bloc.
The Argentine stated that “in times of war, we must unite and not be deceived by individual solutions, which are short-range.” Fernández also warned that the War in Ukraine “must bring difficulties and hunger, so we need to be together, strengthen Mercosur and CELAC”.
In response, Lacalle Pou said that “in this type of meeting we have to say things as they are”, and that his country would not give up negotiations with China.
“We will not interrupt this process on behalf of Mercosur, because we understand that there is no incompatibility,” he said. “Furthermore, when the negotiations are advanced, we will invite the member countries of Mercosur to join the agreement. But if they do not want to, there will be no problem, we will not stop.”
Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro (PL), absent from the meeting, sent a video message but did not refer to the case. He only stated that his government supports the reduction of the TEC (common external tariff). He also said that, given the difficulties of the moment in the region, his management had increased social benefits.
Fernández referred to the economic crisis that Argentina is going through, on a day when the market was agitated with yet another rise in the parallel dollar, which crossed the 300-peso border and closed the day at 324 pesos (the official is at 136 ).
The Argentine said that the situation is explained “because of the terrible inheritance received”, referring to his predecessor, Mauricio Macri, who asked for a loan from the IMF. He also blamed the pandemic and the war.
Before the Mercosur meeting, there was a meeting of Prosur member countries, in which Brazil was represented by Chancellor Carlos França. At the meeting, the topic of transnational security was addressed, and Abdo Benítez stated that progress has been made in this area, and an example was the fact that the murderers of prosecutor Miguel Pesce, executed while on vacation in Cartagena, Colombia, were arrested.
Colombian President Iván Duque did not attend, but was represented by the country’s vice president and chancellor, Marta Lucía Ramírez.
