EU Commission President Undertakes Latin America Tour to Neglected Ties

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen is embarking on a four-nation tour of Latin America, starting Monday, to enhance political and trade ties that the European Union acknowledges have at times been neglected.

Following Russia's invasion of Ukraine, the European Union has sought "like-minded" partners to diversify its sources of trade and critical minerals necessary for its green transition and to reduce dependency on China.

During her trip, von der Leyen will meet with the presidents of Brazil, Argentina, Chile, and Mexico over consecutive days. Her visit follows German Chancellor Olaf Scholz's tour earlier this year and precedes Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva's trip to Paris next week.

Brussels will also host a summit on July 17-18, gathering more than 30 leaders from Latin America and the Caribbean, serving as a launching pad for the EU's recently unveiled "new agenda" with the region.

EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell acknowledged that the partnership has sometimes been taken for granted or neglected and emphasized the need to upgrade it with "partners of choice."

A key focus of von der Leyen's agenda will be the trade agreement reached in 2019 with the Mercosur bloc, comprising Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, and Uruguay, which has been largely put on hold due to concerns about Amazon deforestation. The EU expects a Mercosur response to its proposal of incorporating sustainability and climate change commitments into the agreement.

Furthermore, von der Leyen aims to advance the update to the EU-Mexico trade pact, agreed upon in 2018, and explore partnerships on critical raw materials with various countries in the region. The EU has a trade agreement with Chile, potentially granting European companies increased access to the country's lithium and copper reserves.

Additionally, discussions will focus on the possibility of an understanding with Argentina to encourage EU investors' exploration of the Vaca Muerta shale oil and gas reserves.

The EU's engagement in Latin America seeks to revitalize and strengthen ties, forging new partnerships that prioritize sustainability, climate action, and economic cooperation.