The summit of Mercosur to be held in Buenos Aires promises to be much more than a diplomatic meeting: it will be a stage for political and ideological tensions.
Javier Milei, who currently presides over the bloc, will seek to leave his mark by proposing a more flexible trade opening and a redefinition of the internal rules of the organization, in clear contrast to the position of Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.
Tension at the outset: economic ministers and foreign ministers prepare the ground
The event will begin on Wednesday at 8:30 a.m. with a key meeting between the Economy Ministers and the Presidents of the Central Banks of the member and invited countries. Luis "Toto" Caputo will represent Argentina in a dialogue with his counterparts from Uruguay, Bolivia, Brazil, and Paraguay.
Mercosur: Milei impulsa acuerdos bilaterales y se distancia del modelo de Lula
An hour later, the Foreign Ministers, led by host Gerardo Werthein, will enter the San Martín Palace. Together with their colleagues from Uruguay, Bolivia, Brazil, and Paraguay, they will take part in the Ordinary Meeting of the Common Market Council (CMC), where the terms of the final declaration to be signed by the presidents will be defined.
Milei's bet: openness and agreements outside the bloc
One of the main pillars of the Argentine proposal will be to ensure that the final document includes the commitment to move toward a more flexible model. Upon assuming the pro tempore presidency of Mercosur in December, Milei announced that he would promote a scheme allowing each member country to negotiate bilateral agreements outside the bloc's consensus.
This is a disruptive idea that clashes with the traditional vision of Mercosur, historically more closed and aligned with protectionist positions, such as those represented by Lula da Silva from Brazil.
Lula da Silva in Buenos Aires: political differences and symbolic gestures
Lula's arrival is scheduled for Wednesday night. His presence will be key, since he is one of the main leaders of the bloc. However, his relationship with Milei is nonexistent, and the ideological differences between them are notorious.
According to reports, the Brazilian president could visit Cristina Kirchner, currently under house arrest, in a political gesture that would further highlight the distance with the current libertarian administration.
