Belem.- Latin American integration appears to be going through one of its worst moments. This is what the Brazilian indicated Lula da SilvaLast Sunday, in a meeting Community of Latin American and Caribbean States and European UnionIn Santa Marta (Colombia). “Latin America and the Caribbean are experiencing a deep crisis in their integration project. We have returned to a balkanized and divided region, where intolerance is gaining strengthHe warned that in the president’s view, “we are once again living with the threats of political extremism and manipulation of information.”
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The President left the city of Belém, where the COP 30 is being held, for a few hours to participate in this event, which he never missed. Other presidents, such as Uruguayan Yamando Orci, canceled their presence in the Colombian city at the last minute. Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, was not present, but she was in Pará enjoying the Amazon landscape. Kaja Kallas, European Union Vice-President for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, attended instead.
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The last meeting with the Europeans took place in 2023 in Brussels, coinciding with Lula’s return to the Brazilian government. But unlike then, Latin America today sees a dark shadow creeping over the region. They wonder whether former North American President Donald Trump’s threats against Venezuela could eventually lead to open conflict. With the new term “narcoterrorism” imposed, Washington It seeks to equate the criminal activity of drug trafficking with the political terrorism that was prevalent in the past in South and Central America.
The absence from the Santa Marta summit, according to political analysts, may indicate a sign of adequacy or an attempt not to confront USA. In this context, Lula’s presence was greatly appreciated.
For the Brazilian leader, the event also has an economic goal: to deepen relations between different countries. “Agreement Mercosur“The European Union is proving that it is possible to strengthen multilateralism, in addition to the trade front,” he said. He predicted that at the next Mercosur summit, on December 20 in Rio de Janeiro, “the two blocs will finally be able to say yes to international trade based on the rules, as a response to unilateralism.”
If this goal is achieved, “we will merge the world’s two largest free trade zones, which will form a market of 718 million people and a GDP of $22 trillion.”
Lula stressed that “the Group of Latin American and Caribbean States and the European Union play an essential role in building a global order based on peace, pluralism and multipolarity.” He pointed out, “Two years ago, when we met in Belgium, we were witnessing the relaunch of the history of our alliances. But since then, unfortunately, we have witnessed a setback.” He warned that the summits would become “empty rituals in which major regional leaders are absent.”
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