Uruguay’s participation in the BRICS summit remains uncertain as President Lula of Brazil invites the country for involvement. While discussions about joining the New Development Bank are progressing, President Orsi downplayed the idea of committing to BRICS. The Uruguayan government is also focused on maintaining relations with the United States, amid skepticism towards BRICS.
At the recent inauguration of Uruguay’s new leader, Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva invited Uruguay, along with Colombia and Mexico, to engage in discussions at the upcoming BRICS summit in Brazil. He emphasized the need for participation from these nations, highlighting the importance of debates involving the global community. Lula underlined that strengthening both multilateralism and free trade is crucial, asserting that without free trade, there could be no multilateralism or democracy.
President Yamandu Orsi of Uruguay had a meeting with Dilma Rousseff, the president of the New Development Bank (NDB) linked to BRICS, at the end of December. Rousseff remarked on the significance of finalizing Uruguay’s membership in the NDB, noting that the accession process was nearly complete, pending approval from various Uruguayan institutional bodies, including the Parliament.
Despite these developments, Orsi downplayed the notion of Uruguay’s integration into BRICS, clarifying that the country is accustomed to working through established historical mechanisms rather than pursuing new alliances. He mentioned that the current proposal does not imply joining BRICS and that Uruguay’s involvement in such matters should be approached cautiously.
Uruguay’s Foreign Minister, Mario Lubetkin, also reiterated the government’s intention to maintain cooperative relations with the United States amidst concerns that the U.S. administration is critical of the evolving BRICS coalition of nations. This suggests a delicate balancing act for Uruguay as it engages with international partnerships while considering U.S. perspectives.
In summary, while Uruguay is exploring its role in the BRICS summit and the New Development Bank, its government remains cautious about fully integrating into the BRICS framework. The potential membership is still pending approval from institutional bodies, and the country aims to sustain its relationship with the U.S., which is skeptical of BRICS. Therefore, Uruguay’s participation continues to be uncertain, balancing international relations with adherence to historical mechanisms and strategic partnerships.
Original Source: www.plenglish.com
