Latin American countries have recently focused on Africaa continent with which the region does not normally have strong economic or political ties.
Colombian Vice President Francia Márquez’s tour of South Africa, Kenya and Ethiopia was a historic event to bet on larger alliances with the African continentone of the interests that the government of Gustavo Petro on foreign policy issues.
In turn, the third term of Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva in Brazil has attached importance Strengthen relationships with Africaas a continuation of the impulse initiated by the politician in the country.
Lula’s plan aims to increase diplomatic presence in African countries and encourage investment by Brazilian companies. It also supports the African Union’s accession to the Group of 20 (G20), a demand the African organization sees as an “urgent necessity”.
“Africa has historically been excluded from the foreign policies of the vast majority of Latin American countries,” Colombian African studies expert Jerónimo Delgado-Caicedo told Sputnik, noting that “it’s a process that Latin America was late in arrives.”
With the exception of Cuba and Lula’s Brazil, the other countries “have not had any serious, consistent and lasting rapprochement with the African continent,” diagnosed Delgado-Caicedo.
The Relations between Cuba and Africa have existed for more than 60 years and are considered “indestructible” by the Cuban authorities. The Caribbean country took an active part in the independence and decolonization processes of several African countries such as Angola and Mozambique.
In the case of Brazil, Lula Da Silva reversed foreign policy and turned his attention to Africa. The President broke records for his presidential trips to the continent – making at least 30 trips between 2003 and 2011 – and opened various embassies.
Beyond these ties, the expert pointed out that Argentina and Uruguay have had some “flashes of ties with Africa.” Additionally, in 2012, the Pacific Alliance began an “interesting process” by opening joint embassies in Africa, allowing diplomatic representation for Peru, Chile and Colombia.
However, exchanges between Latin America and Africa were “very limited” compared to other regions of the world. This is what the specialist remembered Africa is “extremely important for Europe and the United States” since colonial times, noting that it was also “fundamental to the growth of emerging powers,” particularly in Asia. In that sense, it has been crucial for China, India, Turkey and Indonesia, he said.
Attempts at rapprochement by the Colombian government in Africa provoked controversy both in the media and in the Colombian opposition. For Delgado-Caicedo, neither the political class, nor the media, nor even the private sector understand the importance of Africa.
The continent is also characterized by having a “resilient” economy in the face of factors such as the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and disruptions to supply chains caused by international conflicts, according to the African Development Bank (AfDB for the acronym in English). ). In this sense, average growth of 4.1% is expected for the continent in 2023 and 2024.
According to the analyst, Latin America could learn about the African integration process, which he saw as “one of the most advanced in the world”. In addition, the experiences within the framework of the African Continental Free Trade AreaThe largest free trade area in the world given the number of its members – 55 members of the African Union – could be “an example” for the region.
The Colombian noted that both continents share “vulnerabilities, challenges and dependence on development”. In this sense, South Africa, Kenya, Ethiopia, Nigeria, Ghana, Senegal, Algeria and Egypt, among others, are gaining experience “in terms of solving development problems that may be relevant for Latin American countries, from mobile banking to rural areas”. , on urban mobility, connectivity and peace processes”.