The Foreign Minister will deliver a keynote speech on geoeconomics at one of Latin America’s most important think tanks. She is sending clear signals to her hosts – and to another large country.
Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock has offered Brazil a cooperation between the democracies in view of China’s attempts to exert influence and the Russian war in Ukraine. “Let’s shake hands and together shape a future from which we all benefit,” said the Green politician in a speech in the Brazilian economic metropolis of São Paulo.
Sustainable trade relations that benefit all sides, the fight against one-sided dependencies and a joint effort to contain the climate crisis are decisive.
Baerbock and Labor Minister Hubertus Heil (SPD) had been invited to give speeches on democracy by one of Latin America’s most important think tanks, the Fundação Getulio Vargas (FGV). The FGV is a university for administration, economics and law. With around 215 million inhabitants, Brazil is Germany’s most important trading partner in South America.
Baerbock warned that the world was going through a radical upheaval that was challenging the ability of democracies to act. “At the same time, security policy and economic policy are increasingly merging.” More than 1000 German companies have made São Paulo the largest location for German business outside of Europe. German companies are also responsible for every tenth dollar of added value in Brazilian industry.
Authoritarian regimes wanted to divide the world into spheres of influence and subdue countries instead of respecting the self-determined development of all states, the minister said, without mentioning Beijing directly. China has been Brazil’s most important trading partner since 2009. For Beijing, Brazil is particularly important for the procurement of raw materials, including agricultural products.
Baerbock promotes Mercosur trade deal
Baerbock urgently campaigned for the conclusion of the negotiations on the Mercosur trade agreement – after a supplement with binding social, sustainable and ecological criteria. Mercosur is more than just a trade agreement in these times. “It is also a geopolitical answer to questions in all our societies about the added value of democracy,” said the minister, referring to China. It can be shown that democracies and not autocracies bring solutions.
The EU has been negotiating since 1999 with the Mercosur group of states – which includes Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay – on a free trade agreement that would create one of the largest free trade zones in the world with more than 700 million people. The agreement is also on hold due to Lula’s right-wing predecessor Jair Bolsonaro blocking climate protection.
Minister on Resource Development: Don’t fuel a gold rush
Baerbock emphasized that when Germany supports its partners in better developing strategically important raw materials, it is doing so in an environmentally friendly, socially and economically sustainable manner. They don’t want to “foment a new gold rush” and no overexploitation that leaves only quick money for a few and contaminated soil for everyone. China is accused of wanting to make countries economically dependent. Brazil is also dependent on Beijing for raw materials and fertilizers, for example.
Baerbock to Lula: Democracies cannot back down now
Baerbock also said to the Brazilian government that democracies cannot hold back now, but should help shape this change. It is also the war in Ukraine that has caused food prices to skyrocket worldwide. “Security and development are not opposites, they are mutually dependent,” said the Federal Foreign Minister.
Brazil is the only country in the Brics group of states (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) to have condemned the Russian war in all United Nations resolutions. However, President Lula does not clearly side with Ukraine. With criticism of the military aid from NATO and other countries, he caused irritation.
Heil for fair wages and occupational safety in the digital world
Heil said that artificial intelligence is changing everyday life at breakneck speed. The regulations that apply in the analog world must also apply in the digital world, he demanded. Rights for employees that have been hard won over centuries, such as good wages, fair pay and occupational safety, must also be enforced in the digital world. Digitization of work must not lead to exploitation, surveillance and oppression.
Baerbock and Heil at Mercedes-Benz do Brasil
When visiting a Mercedes-Benz plant, Baerbock and Heil had the production of buses with electric drives explained to them. Mercedes-Benz do Brasil is the largest bus and truck producer in Latin America. The company manufactures the eO500U electric bus in São Bernardo do Campo in the state of São Paulo. It assumes that the demand for electric buses in Brazil will increase from the current level of around 1,000 to 3,000 vehicles in 2024. Most electric buses in Brazil are in the metropolis of São Paulo: The city wants to have 2,600 electric buses by 2024.
Ministers visit tractor study for women driving trucks
At the end of the visit to Mercedes-Benz, Baerbock and Heil were shown a design study of one designed for the special needs of women truck drivers in Brazil. In the cab of the tractor, which is painted rose gold, there are beds and a toilet as well as a hair dryer and make-up mirror.
Source: Stern
I have been working in the news industry for over 6 years, first as a reporter and now as an editor. I have covered politics extensively, and my work has appeared in major newspapers and online news outlets around the world. In addition to my writing, I also contribute regularly to 24 Hours World.
