President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva (PT) travels this week to Buenos Aires, where he participates in the Mercosur summit, scheduled for July 2 and 3. It will be Lula’s first visit to Argentina since Javier Milei took over the presidency of the neighboring country.
During the meeting, Brazil will assume the rotating presidency of the South American bloc, with a mandate until December 31, 2025. The transition will be made directly by Milei, who will pass Mercosur’s leadership to the Brazilian government.
Among the priority themes of the meeting are commercial integration and cooperation between member countries. There is also an expectation of advances in the agreement between Mercosur and the European Union, which has been dragging on for years without definition.
According to ambassador Gisela Padovan, secretary for Latin America and Caribbean of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the fight against organized crime and drug trafficking will also be on the agenda of the discussions. “Strengthening security between member countries is a priority for Brazil,” he said.
The Brazilian agenda also includes the integration of productive chains in the automotive and sugar -energy sectors, with the objective of increasing the competitiveness of the region. The formalization of Bolivia’s definitive entry into the block should also be confirmed.
“Mercosur is fundamental for the growth of Brazil, especially for the quality of regional exports. Approximately 95% of our sales to Argentina are manufactured and high -added products, which moves industry and generates jobs,” said Padovan.
The meeting takes place in a context of geopolitical instability and expectation about the conclusion of the agreement between Mercosur and the European Union.
