The MP and Chancellor Diana Mondino, elected by the Milei government, has arrived for a working meeting with Minister Mauro Vieira | in Brasília Photo: Disclosure/Itamaraty
In addition to officially invite President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva to his inauguration on December 10thJavier Milei has given clear signs of his withdrawal from Argentina’s withdrawal from Mercosur. The campaign’s angry attacks gave way to subtle words and even praise for the Brazilian and the trade bloc.
During his victorious election campaign, Milei attacked Lula in various ways, asserting that he would never speak to the Brazilian or do business with Brazil because, in his opinion, the country was ruled by a “leftist”, “thief” and “communist”. He also stated several times that Mercosur must be “eliminated” because it would “greatly harm” the “good citizens of Argentina.”
At a meeting with Brazilian Foreign Minister Mauro Vieira this Sunday (26), the said Future Argentine Chancellor Diana Mondino invited Lula to attend Milei’s inauguration and positively signaled his country’s support for the conclusion of the trade agreement between Mercosur and the European Union (EU).
“Before you ask me: we are talking about the importance of signing Mercosur as quickly as possible. “MercosurEuropean Union and finally with other countries like Singapore,” said Milei’s candidate after meeting Mauro Vieira.
The Brazilian government’s presidency of Mercosur runs until December 7, three days before Milei takes office. During the election campaign, the new president defended Argentina’s exit from the economic bloc, but withdrew from the idea and only defended changes. Mercosur also unites Uruguay and Paraguay.
One of the agreements negotiated by the Brazilian Presidency is with the European Union. The MercosurEU agreement was adopted in 2019 after 20 years of negotiations and must be ratified by the parliaments of all countries in both blocs to come into force. 31 countries are involved in the negotiations.
The future chancellor says she is not sure about Argentina in the BRICS countries
Modino, who was appointed deputy and chancellor by Milei, said that Brazil and Argentina are brothers and will remain so even after the presidentelect takes office. “We have to work hard together so that both countries grow,” he emphasized.
However, Modino said he was unsure whether his country needed to join the Brics, an agreement reached during Alberto Fernandez’s government. The Brics currently consists of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa and is expected to expand to 11 members from 2024 Argentina should be one of the new members.
“I have no idea how Argentina will participate in the BRICS,” said the future chancellor. “With all the economic problems we have in Argentina, I don’t understand what advantage we would have by joining (the bloc). If we have it, of course we will participate,” he added.
What counts, says Mauro Vieira, are formal demonstrations
At the same press conference, shortly after Modino’s speech, Mauro Vieira rated the meeting with the elected Argentine MP as “productive”. The Brazilian Chancellor emphasized that despite possible comments critical of Mercosur, formal demonstrations are important and that there is a desire on both sides to move the bloc forward.
“For example, we talked about the possibility of biooceanic corridors, we talked about Mercosur’s external negotiations, we also talked about expanding and deepening Mercosur’s decisions, an issue on which we agree because we want that a bigger and better Mercosur benefits from regional integration,” explained the minister.
“I explained to her in which areas we are negotiating during the Brazilian presidency of Mercosur, which is now coming to an end, and with which other countries and regions we are negotiating. She expressed her joy at the knowledge. For me that is the crucial thing. “We will work with this government until the end of the term and then with the new government, knowing that there is a desire in Mercosur to move forward,” he added.
Regarding Milei’s invitation to Lula, the minister also said that he had not had the opportunity to assess the Brazilian’s presence at the inauguration. “What was said during the election campaign is one thing, what happens during the government is another. I don’t know what it will be like, as I said, whether the president can go or not. He comes from a long stay abroad and will hold the Mercosur summit in Brazil,” he explained.
“There is no problem, no embarrassment of any kind. “Governments organize guest lists, send them out and those who want to host and those who don’t, don’t, but there is also different treatment of heads of state and direct guests,” Vieira added.
Vieira strengthened the long and strong diplomatic relations between the two countries that transcended governments. “What I can say is that there is a very strong and very important relationship between Brazil and Argentina, which was born even on the basis of the agreements between the president in the 80s [José] Sarney and the President [Raúl] Alfonsín, who laid the entire foundation for this great collaboration.”
Among the cooperation sectors, he highlighted nuclear energy, science and technology, information technology, trade, industry and investment. “All of this exists and is very important. President Lula said that the national interest and the national project are the most important thing,” he reiterated.
Regarding Argentina’s accession to the BRICS countries, a bloc that brings together developing countries such as Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, the minister pointed out that the country’s accession is in Brazil’s interest, but it is the responsibility of the evaluate new government. “The Argentine government was a candidate at the time and Brazil supported it because it was an initiative that was of interest to Brazil. It is also about the balance of geographical representation in the BRICS countries and of course that Argentina is an important partner of Brazil.”
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