During his closing speech of Argentina’s pro tempore presidency in Mercosur, President Javier Milei made clear the priority of his administration: opening new markets for Argentine exports. Milei advocated for a more flexible bloc with fewer internal barriers, describing the current model as restrictive: “it cannot continue to be an iron curtain for its members,” Milei said on 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 includes Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, and Liechtenstein—was one of the central points 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 emphasized that his country can no longer wait for consensus in the bloc. “Argentina cannot wait; we need more freedom urgently. We are leaving behind decades of stagnation. Mercosur partners must decide if they want to help on the path we have begun. We will do it together or alone,” he stated.
The Argentine president also demanded that Mercosur stop being an instrument of protection and become a bridge to 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 let differences on accessory issues divide us,” he emphasized in another part of the speech. Despite the predominant critical tone, Milei thanked the bloc’s countries for their support of Argentina’s historic claim to sovereignty over the Malvinas Islands.
Over the six months under Argentina’s pro tempore presidency, Milei highlighted advances in expanding exceptions to the Common External Tariff (TEC) and the conclusion of the agreement with EFTA. However, he signaled that he expects from Brazil, which has now taken command of the bloc, a commitment to continuing this agenda. “We hope that Brazil will continue what we started,” he stated.
Still according to the report, Milei tried to include in Mercosur’s final declaration a critical mention of the situation in Venezuela, but the proposed text was considered too harsh by other countries, including Brazil, which conditioned any mention to also including criticism of the international sanctions imposed on the country. Without agreement, no joint declaration was issued on the matter. Even so, Milei used his platform to position himself on the South American country. “We condemn the cases of illegal detentions in Venezuela, where people are arrested and their rights are violated. We reiterate our demand for 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 advance of factions like the Red Command. In his characteristic style, Milei ended the speech with a religious reference. “May the forces of heaven accompany us,” evoking the Book of Maccabees, a biblical passage frequently cited by him: “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 Mercosur member countries posed for a photo at the Palacio San Martín, the seat of the Argentine foreign ministry. President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT) and Javier Milei exchanged only a formal greeting, without deeper conversations. Lula’s visit to former Argentine President Cristina Kirchner was not mentioned at the event.
Source: www.brasil247.com