President Luis Lacalle Pou held a bilateral meeting with his American counterpart Joe Biden, who received it at the White House to discuss how to expand the relationship and increase joint efforts in terms of climate change and security between the two countries, within the framework of the Uruguayan leader’s tour of the North American country, where he will receive an award.
After the meeting, which lasted more than an hour, the White House issued a statement, in which Biden praised Uruguay as “a regional and global model of democratic governance.” In addition, he congratulated Lacalle Pou for receiving the Gold Insignia. ,
The talk, which was not scheduled, meant a rapprochement between the two leaders, who have already expressed common positions regarding foreign policy in Latin America, such as Venezuela, Cuba and Nicaragua, countries where both consider that democratic rights are violated and even came to describe them as a dictatorship. In fact, Biden highlighted it this time “For his support for Ukraine and his defense of the principles of fundamental freedoms in Venezuela.”
In fact, in the letter from the White House they valued “their commitment to ensuring that the Partnership of the Americas for Economic Prosperity accelerates regional integration, inclusive economic prosperity, and greater opportunity through sustainable trade and investment.”
The possible agreement with China that had put the United States on alert
In the last few hours, since Washington They had observed with concern the marked Uruguayan interest in reaching an FTA with China, which today seems far from being a reality, considering that it would be a way of expansion of Beijing’s presence in Latin America.
The meeting also took place at a time when the Uruguayan president will stay on US soil until Thursday the 15th and will receive an award from the educational organization Americas Society/Council of the Americas (AS/COA) with the Gold Insignia. In addition, it intends to advance in matters of international relations and foreign trade. Within this framework, Lacalle Pou had the opportunity to speak with the president of one of the world powers, who for months has shown a special interest in Uruguay.
According to diplomatic sources consigned to EFE, the Uruguayan foreign minister, Francisco Bustillo, and the ambassador in Washington, Andrés Augusto Durán Hareau, also participated in the meeting. On behalf of the White House were the Deputy National Security Adviser, Jonathan Finer, and Biden’s main adviser for Latin America, Juan González.
The bipartisan project and the possibility of a new alliance with the United States
It is worth remembering that in the last hours a group of senators from the North American country presented a project in the Parliament to reduce tariffs on Uruguayan products entering USA. Thus, Republican and Democratic congressmen insist on a trade agreement in the style of the NAFTA (North Atlantic Free Trade Agreement), also adding to Ecuador, the last Latin American nation to sign an FTA with China and expressly.
The bill was named Economic Association between the United States and Uruguayyy had in the newsroom the Democratic Senators Bob Menendez and Tim Kaine and Republican Senator Bil Hagerty. It was precisely the three legislators who led the delegation that last April met with Lacalle Pou at the Anchorena residence.
If approved, which seems most likely due to its bipartisan nature, it would positively affect Uruguayan products such as citrus, honey, wood, wine, caviar, lamb, wool and leather. In addition, it could represent an advance for the export of services related to IT and software.
Source: Ambito
