Brazilian President Lula invites Uruguay to the BRICS summit while emphasizing the importance of multilateralism and free trade. Uruguay’s potential membership in the New Development Bank is nearing completion, yet its integration into BRICS remains uncertain, as expressed by President Orsi. The Uruguayan government aims to sustain positive relations with the United States, which has concerns about the BRICS bloc.
During a recent press briefing, Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva extended an invitation for Uruguay, along with Colombia and Mexico, to engage in the upcoming BRICS summit in Brazil. He emphasized the significance of including these nations, asserting that a global dialogue is crucial at this juncture. President Lula noted that the summit should focus on bolstering both multilateralism and free trade, linking the two as essential components of democracy.
Lula highlighted the substantial influence of BRICS, which encompasses nearly half of the world’s population and GDP, with major players like China and India. In late December, Uruguayan President Yamandu Orsi met with Dilma Rousseff, head of the New Development Bank (NDB) of BRICS, to discuss Uruguay’s potential membership in the bank, a process reported to be nearly finalized pending parliamentary approval.
However, President Orsi downplayed the importance of Uruguay’s association with NDB, clarifying that this initiative does not equate to joining BRICS itself. He remarked on Uruguay’s historical collaboration with other mechanisms and suggested that although it is a new avenue, all possibilities warrant exploration. Furthermore, Foreign Minister Mario Lubetkin reaffirmed the Uruguayan government’s intention to uphold its favorable relations with the United States, which has reservations regarding the BRICS bloc.
In summary, Uruguay’s participation in the BRICS summit remains tentative, despite President Lula’s invitation for regional representation. While discussions regarding Uruguay’s accession to the New Development Bank are in progress, the Uruguayan leadership is cautious about fully engaging with the BRICS framework. The government prioritizes maintaining strong ties with the United States amidst the evolving dynamics of international relations.
Original Source: www.plenglish.com
