EU-CELAC summit begins today
Today begins a two-day summit between the European Union (EU) and the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC)—the first in eight years. Despite being divided on numerous issues over the past years, EU-CELAC trade has increased 39% over the last decade, and both Europe and Latin America hope to increase economic ties, as seen in the ongoing development of an EU-Mercosur trade pact, reports AP. The EU is “planning 45 billion euros of investment in Latin America and the Caribbean as part of its Global Gateway scheme, widely seen as a rival to China's Belt and Road programme of infrastructure investments,” notes Reuters.
China is one of the most divisive issues between the two blocs, says AP, explaining, “In talks early Monday with Brazil President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, (EU Commission President Ursula) von der Leyen stressed how important it was to ‘de-risk’ their economies, which is EU code-speak for taking distance from Beijing for fear the Chinese could become so powerful as investors as to control nations from afar.”
Russia-Ukraine and the question of democratic ideals also pose a wedge between the two parties, with James Bosworth writing at WPR, “Adding an even greater range of dissenting views to the summit are several CELAC countries with explicitly pro-Russia leanings, like the dictatorial regimes of Cuba, Venezuela and Nicaragua, which will be represented at the meeting despite the EU’s purported focus on democracy and human rights. This concession is partly due to the Spanish government’s eagerness to engage with Cuba and partly out of fear that condemnation of these countries’ human rights records or an attempt to block their attendance could derail the EU-CELAC summit’s broader agenda, similar to what happened with the Summit of the Americas hosted by the U.S. in Los Angeles last year.”
In response to such concerns, Amnesty International wrote an open letter to leaders at the summit, calling for the prioritization of human rights. WOLA, alongside “160 Nicaraguan victims, along with 29 national, regional, and international human rights organizations,” also wrote an open letter to leaders, calling for a concerted approach to Nicaragua and “the establishment of a Group of Friends of the Nicaraguan People, ensuring cross-regional, high-level efforts to restore democracy in the country.”
Venezuela
Venezuelan opposition candidate Maria Corina Machado and fellow party members were harassed by Chavistas as they attempted to carry out a presidential campaign event, says Crónica.
Venezuela’s oil ministry is set to phase out fuel subsidies, which will result in a significant increase in gas prices for those in the country, reports Bloomberg.
Regional
Inter-American Development Bank President Ilan Goldfajn argues at El País that Latin America “is well positioned to be part of the solution to the main global challenges, including climate change, food security and preserving biodiversity.”
Americas Quarterly explores women’s football in South America, which enjoys less institutional and fan support than in the Northern Hemisphere. However, “viewership of the 2019 Women’s World Cup more than doubled in Brazil, to about 108 million, and organizers are optimistic for 2023, despite the time zone difference.”
Uruguay
Uruguay’s intention to seek a trade deal with China, outside of the Mercosur trading bloc, has angered neighboring countries and prompted economic retaliation by Argentina and Brazil, reports New York Times.
AP highlights the phenomenon of how some Uruguayans, in search of economic deals, cross the border to Argentina whose floundering economy makes its goods and services attractive to foreigners.
Chile
In Americas Quarterly, Brian Winter interviewed Gloria de la Fuente, an undersecretary at Chile’s foreign ministry, about the country’s intention to implement a feminist foreign policy and the challenges that lay ahead.
Migration
“Panama has created a two-year temporary regularization program for irregular migrants of any nationality that have been in the country for at least one year, among other requirements. The permit costs $500 for adults and $250 for minors, in addition to other charges that amount to up to $450 more in further fees,” writes Jordi at the Americas Migration Brief.
“A Brazilian court has ordered the National Foundation for Indigenous Peoples (Funai) to implement policy to help receive Indigenous Warao and E'ñepá Venezuelan migrants, reports Roraima1.” (via Americas Migration Brief)
“The Trinidadian government has announced that they will “integrate migrant children into the primary school education system in the new academic year,” a move which has received praise from the international community.” (via Americas Migration Brief)
Paraguay
“Insecurity is rising in Paraguay, and the government is increasing recruitment opportunities for organized crime groups by jailing thousands of people merely accused of crimes alongside actual convicts,” says InSight Crime in an exploration of pre-trial detention in Paraguay.
Brazil
Despite scrutiny, Brazil’s state-owned oil company, Petrobras, has the opportunity to help spearhead the country’s transition towards lower carbon emissions and greater sustainability, write Fernanda Barbosa, Steven Hyland Jr., and Travis Knoll at Global Americans.
“Brazil on Friday urged a 10-year precautionary pause on deep sea mining in international waters just days after companies and countries were allowed to start applying for provisional licenses.” (ABC)
Colombia
“A crash in the price of coca, the chief ingredient in cocaine, is contributing to food insecurity in Colombia and causing displacement, as people leave areas that depend on the illicit crop… Oversupply of coca - including more productive plants and record crops - is contributing to the crash, along with slow growth of trafficking routes and new coca cultivation in Guatemala, Honduras and Mexico,” reports Reuters.