Mercosur leaders meet this Monday (8) in Paraguay, in one of the few times in 33 years of history without the participation of one of the bloc’s presidents, due to the absence of the Argentine head of state, Javier Milei, but with a novelty: the incorporation of Bolivia as a member of the bloc.
Argentina will be represented at the Mercosur Summit by Foreign Minister Diana Mondino, who will meet with President Lula of Brazil, Santiago Peña of Paraguay, Luis Lacalle Pou of Uruguay, and Luis Arce of Bolivia.
Although the presence of the Argentine president had previously been confirmed, the Casa Rosada reported that Milei would not participate in the event due to a “busy” schedule.
Despite this, the Argentine president decided to go this weekend to the state of Santa Catarina, in Brazil, where he will participate this Sunday (7) in the Conservative Political Action Convention, alongside Jair Bolsonaro.
The former Brazilian president was precisely one of the few precedents for absence from Mercosur summits.
He missed both presidential meetings: the first, also in Asunción, in July 2022, when he sent a video to the other heads of state; and in December of the same year, when he decided not to go to Montevideo and sent his vice president, Hamilton Mourão, to the event.
The Itamaraty, through the Secretary for Latin America and the Caribbean, Gisela Padovan, classified Milei’s decision not to meet with the other presidents of the bloc as “politically regrettable” and “not desirable”, but considers that the maturity and consolidation of the bloc over the decades shields “the substance” of the event.
Bolivia as a new member of Mercosur
Despite the cold shower of the Argentine leader’s absence on integrationist aspirations, the summit this Monday should be marked by a new development: if Bolivia finally delivers its letter of ratification for incorporation as a full member, Mercosur will have one more member.
Last week, the Bolivian Senate approved the bloc’s accession, and the law formalizing it was enacted by President Luis Arce.
Once the ratification letter is delivered to the Paraguayan Presidency, Bolivia will become a full member in 30 days. The country will have up to four years to adapt to the bloc’s trade regulations.
Mercosur would thus have five members: Argentina, Brazil, Bolivia, Paraguay and Uruguay. Venezuela used to belong to the bloc, but has been suspended for almost ten years for failing to meet compliance requirements and for breaking the bloc’s democratic clause.
Signing of agreements
In addition to the focus on Bolivian membership, an agreement is planned to be signed for financial and technical support between the bloc and the Financial Fund for the Development of the La Plata Basin (Fonplata).
In addition, a Mercosur film and audiovisual co-production agreement must be signed, another cooperation agreement for disaster prevention and a declaration to combat transnational organized crime.
At this summit, the six-month temporary Presidency of Mercosur will be handed over by Paraguay to Uruguay.
Source: CNN Brasil
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