Milei’s future FM pledges support for Mercosur-European Union deal

Diana Mondino, the designated Foreign Minister by President-elect Javier Milei, stated on Sunday that his future administration will support the Mercosur-European Union trade agreement. However, she clarified that during her visit to Brasilia, the issue of Argentina’s entry into the BRICS has yet to be discussed. In her meeting with Brazilian Foreign Minister Mauro Vieira, she presented a letter of invitation from the libertarian leader to Lula to attend his inauguration.

According to Mondino, the presidential change in Argentina will not be an “obstacle” to the trade agreement with the EU.

However, the future FM “sees no advantages” in joining the BRICS, after the group of emerging countries accepted the Argentine government’s petition to join it from January 1.

Milei’s Support for Mercosur-EU Agreement

“We are in this together, discussing the importance of signing the Mercosur-European Union deal, as well as with other countries like Singapore,” Mondino said after leaving the Itamaraty Palace, the headquarters of the Brazilian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, where she met and had lunch with Foreign Minister Mauro Vieira.

In mid-October, President Alberto Fernández announced, after meeting with the head of the New Development Bank of the BRICS (NDB), Dilma Rousseff, that Argentina “had initiated the accession process” to that organization.

Currently, Brazil holds the rotating presidency of Mercosur and wants to finalize the agreement with the EU before December 7.

Milei-Lula Relationship

Furthermore, Mondino denied that Milei has personal problems with Lula: “One thing is criticizing the ideology, another thing is the person. This is different, and we need to separate states, governments, and individuals. The relationship with Brazil will continue in the best and most efficient way possible.”

The elected deputy Mondino brought a letter from Milei to Minister Vieira inviting Lula to his inauguration on December 10. “I will deliver President Lula the letter of invitation,” Vieira said during a press statement after the meeting with Mondino.

According to Vieira, this first contact was “very productive” since Mondino stated that she wants a “larger and improved Mercosur.”

“We discussed issues of the Brazil-Argentina bilateral relationship, Mercosur issues, and regional relationship matters. For example, we talked about bioceanic corridors, we talked about Mercosur’s external negotiations, and the expansion of Mercosur’s decisions. We want a larger and improved Mercosur to benefit regional integration,” he explained.

Vieira was asked if Lula would attend the presidential inauguration, as Milei first invited the far-right former president Jair Bolsonaro, an opponent of Lula, who will travel with a delegation of more than 20 people.

“We cannot decide who should be invited; there is no problem of any kind with guests. Especially because there are different treatments for guests and guests who are heads of state,” Vieira assured.

Source: Ámbito

Click here to read the original news article in Spanish: https://www.ambito.com/economia/mondino-aseguro-que-milei-respaldara-el-acuerdo-el-mercosur-y-la-union-europea-n5885101

Sharing is caring!