During his closing speech as Argentina’s pro tempore president of Mercosur, President Javier Milei made clear the priority of his administration: opening new markets for Argentine exports. Milei defended a more flexible bloc with fewer internal barriers, classifying the current model as restrictive: “it cannot continue to be an iron curtain for its members,” said Milei this Thursday (3), during the bloc’s Summit meeting, held in Buenos Aires, according to O Globo.
The celebration of the negotiations concluded with the European Union and the European Free Trade Association (EFTA), which comprises Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, and Liechtenstein, was a central point of the speech. The Argentine also called for speed in talks with other partners, such as Israel, the United Arab Emirates, El Salvador, and Panama. According to the report, Milei stressed that her country can no longer wait for consensus within the bloc. “Argentina cannot wait; we urgently need more freedom. We have left behind decades of stagnation. Mercosur members must decide whether they want to help us on the path we have embarked on. We will do so together or alone,” he stated.
The Argentine president also demanded that Mercosur cease to be an instrument of protection and become a bridge for global trade. “We must stop thinking of Mercosur as a shield that protects us from the world, and instead as a spear that allows us to enter global markets.” “We cannot allow differences on secondary issues to divide us,” he stressed at another point in his speech. Despite the prevailing critical tone, Milei thanked the bloc countries for their support of Argentina’s historic claim for sovereignty over the Falkland Islands.
During the six months of Argentina’s pro tempore presidency, Milei highlighted progress in expanding the Common External Tariff (CET) exceptions and concluding the agreement with EFTA. However, she signaled that she expects Brazil, which has now taken over the leadership of the bloc, to commit to continuing this agenda. “We hope that Brazil will continue what we started,” she said.
According to the report, Milei attempted to include a critical mention of the situation in Venezuela in the final Mercosur declaration. However, the proposed text was deemed excessively harsh by other countries, including Brazil, which conditioned any mention on the inclusion of criticism of the international sanctions imposed on the country. Without an agreement, no joint statement was issued on the subject. Even so, Milei used her platform to position herself on the South American country. “We condemn the cases of illegal detention in Venezuela, where people are arrested and their rights are violated. We once again demand the release of military police officer Nahuel Gallo.”
The president also proposed the creation of a regional agency to combat organized crime within Mercosur, mentioning the rise of factions such as Comando Vermelho. In his characteristic style, Milei ended his speech with a religious reference. “May the forces of heaven accompany us,” evoking the Book of Maccabees, a biblical passage he often quotes: “Victory in battle does not depend on the number of soldiers, but on the forces that come from heaven.”
Before the meeting, the leaders of the Mercosur member countries posed for a photo at the San Martín Palace, the headquarters of the Argentine Ministry of Foreign Affairs. President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT) and Javier Milei exchanged only a formal greeting, without any further in-depth dialogue. Lula’s visit to former Argentine President Cristina Kirchner was not mentioned at the event.
Source: www.brasil247.com