Brasília, November 22 (EFE). – Ministers and authorities of Foreign Affairs and Defense of South America met this Wednesday in Brasilia, where they reaffirmed their firm commitment to integration, which they hope will also be joined by Argentina, governed by the libertarian Javier Milei, from the 10th . December.
During the meeting, the first of its kind in more than a decade, there was a comprehensive review of the status of the cooperation programs and initiatives for greater integration outlined during the South America Summit last May, also the first in nine years.
In addition to Brazil as host, delegations from Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, Uruguay and Venezuela took part.
According to Brazilian Foreign Minister Mauro Vieira, who served as spokesman for the meeting, the main conclusion is that South America is firmly committed to the need for a strong resumption of its integration processes and mechanisms.
“We have noted that there is a consensus on the need to deepen cooperation and integration” and to exchange experiences that can contribute to promoting development, said the Brazilian foreign minister.
Responding to questions from journalists about the new panorama that could emerge after the election victory in Argentina of Javier Milei, the only far-right president in South America, Viera replied: “We have to be patient and wait.”
Milei has said his foreign policy priorities will be the United States and Israel, and has stated that Mercosur, made up of Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay, “is a flawed customs union that hurts the good Argentines.”
It has also questioned Argentina’s stability in other regional blocs such as the Union of South American Nations (Unasur) and the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (Celac), as well as in the mechanism itself created in Brasilia last May.
The meeting, which took place this Wednesday in Brasilia, was attended by representatives of the government chaired by Alberto Fernández, who will hand over power to the libertarian leader on December 10.
According to Vieira, the event left a unanimous message: “All the countries present have united their voices for more and better integration” and they also trust that this political will will prevail, regardless of the election results in one country or another.
The meeting also addressed the tensions that have arisen between Venezuela and Guyana over the Essequibo dispute.
“The delegates from Guyana and Venezuela presented their positions” and “the other countries called on them to reach agreement through diplomatic channels and resolve their disputes peacefully,” Vieira said.
The disagreements resurfaced after Nicolás Maduro’s government called for a referendum on December 3 to consider the possible incorporation of Essequibo into the national map and the granting of Venezuelan citizenship to the 125,000 residents of the disputed territory.
At the meeting in Brasilia, Guyana and Venezuela were represented at the highest level expected.
Foreign Minister Yván Gil traveled from Caracas, while the Guyanese delegation was led by Prime Minister Mark Phillips.
According to the Brazilian foreign minister, what both heard from the other delegations was “a message of encouragement in the sense that differences will be resolved through dialogue or arbitration through international bodies.”
Edward Davis