The Uruguayan government headed by Luis Lacalle Pou has made the decision not to accompany the joint declaration issued by the countries that participated in the recent Mercosur Summit, held in Puerto Iguazú, Argentina. This position adopted by Uruguay is not something new, since the country has maintained a similar position in previous instances. Instead of joining the joint declaration, Uruguay issued its own declaration, which presents significant differences compared to the one approved by Argentina, Brazil and Paraguay.
Uruguay’s position in this summit has generated attention and debate, especially during the press conference where the Argentine president, Alberto Fernández, handed over the pro tempore presidency of the block to the Brazilian Luiz Inácio Lula Da Silva. Next, we will explore in detail Uruguay’s decision, its own statement and the reactions generated during the press conference.
Uruguay’s decision not to support the joint declaration adopted at the Mercosur Summit reflects its independent position and its focus on defending its particular interests above those of the bloc’s collectives. This, of course, has cost him criticism and setbacks: the most remarkable was Uruguay’s attempt to go solo on an FTA with Chinawhich began to negotiate, but then from Beijing they announced that this would not go anywhere.
“Uruguay has a view that President Lacalle has been holding for some time, who insists and persists that the Mercosur partners can negotiate autonomously and, in some way, expresses that difference by not signing the declaration. But it’s a decision we know”, the Argentine president responded at a press conference.
Lacalle Pou: Uruguay’s proposal to make Mercosur more flexible “is not capricious”
In relation to Uruguay, the libertarian leader referred to the popular saying that states that “the pitcher goes to the fountain so much that it breaks in the end,” and asserted: “We are going to continue carrying the pitcher, because it is not whimsicalis not from this government, but from many behind, who tell you that you have to be flexible”. And he added: “It is what our people feel, flexibility, modernization, opening up to the world.”
“It’s much better together. If we go together with Argentina, Brazil and Paraguay, we will be much stronger, with better negotiating conditions. Immobility is what worries us,” continued the right-wing leader.
Regarding the trade agreement with China, he insisted that the Uruguayan position is to negotiate as a block, but that, when progress is not made, Uruguay’s policy will advance individually.
