In his closing speech as pro tempore president of Argentina in Mercosur, President Javier Milei made clear his government’s priority: 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 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 demanded agility in dealings 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 urgently need more freedom. We are leaving behind decades of stagnation. Mercosur members must decide if they want to help us on the path we have embarked on. 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, but rather as a spear that allows us to enter global markets.” “We cannot allow differences on secondary issues to divide us,” he emphasized in another excerpt from his speech. Despite the predominant critical tone, Milei thanked the bloc’s countries for their support of Argentina’s historical claim to sovereignty over the Malvinas Islands.
During the six months of Argentina’s pro tempore presidency, Milei highlighted advances in expanding exceptions to the Common External Tariff (TEC) and concluding the agreement with EFTA. However, he signaled that he expects Brazil, which has now taken over leadership of the bloc, to commit to continuing this agenda. “We hope Brazil will continue what we started,” he said.
According to the report, Milei tried to include a critical mention of the situation in Venezuela in Mercosur’s final declaration. However, the proposed text was considered too harsh by other countries, including Brazil, which conditioned any mention to the inclusion of criticism of the international sanctions imposed on the country. Without agreement, there was no joint statement on the matter. Even so, Milei used his platform to take a stand on the South American country. “We condemn the cases of illegal detention in Venezuela, where people are arrested and their rights are violated. We again demand the release of military police officer Nahuel Gallo.”
The president also proposed the creation of a regional agency to combat organized crime in 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 he often cites: “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 Palacio San Martín, headquarters of Argentina’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT) and Javier Milei exchanged only a formal greeting, without any deeper dialogue. Lula’s visit to former Argentine President Cristina Kirchner was not mentioned at the event.
Source: www.brasil247.com