29/06/2026 09:10 - Politica
After a brief stopover in Madrid, President Javier Milei is traveling to Asunción, Paraguay to attend the Mercosur Summit of Heads of State scheduled for Monday, June 29 and Tuesday, June 30, 2026. The gathering promises intense political discussions that could overshadow commercial progress within South America's main trade bloc.
Mercosur (Southern Common Market) is a regional integration organization founded in 1991 by Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, and Uruguay, later joined by Bolivia. It promotes free movement of goods, services, and people among member states.
Paraguayan Foreign Minister Rubén Ramírez confirmed the attendance of seven presidents: the five full Mercosur members (Argentina, Paraguay, Brazil, Uruguay, and Bolivia—the latter still in adaptation phase), plus José Antonio Kast from Chile and Daniel Noboa from Ecuador. Foreign ministers from Colombia, Chile, and Panama will attend as associated states, along with special guests from Germany, United Arab Emirates, Trinidad and Tobago, and Uzbekistan. A delegation of 30 business leaders will also participate.
The main tension stems from ideological and political differences between Milei and Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. Brazil's government expressed concern over the trade agreement signed between Argentina and the United States in February 2026, which eliminates tariffs on 1,675 products.
Brasilia fears this could create "distortions" within the bloc and formally requested clarifications during the Common Market Group meeting in March. Any agreement with Washington must be compatible with Mercosur obligations and the free trade treaty with the European Union, in effect since May 1, 2026.
Ignacio Bartesaghi, an analyst from the Catholic University of Uruguay (UCU), notes: "Brazil has always wanted Argentina bound to common commercial policy. That struggle for leadership is classic Itamaraty (Brazilian Foreign Ministry) doctrine."
Argentine Foreign Minister Pablo Quirno formally requested Argentina's accession to the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), a trade bloc comprising twelve economies including Australia, Canada, Japan, Mexico, Peru, and the United Kingdom.
The bloc represents approximately 13% of global GDP and 15% of world trade. During 2025, Argentine exports to these countries reached USD 16.329 billion with a trade surplus of USD 8.930 billion.
Key Implication:
This would be the first trade agreement where Argentina negotiates as an equal with the United Kingdom while maintaining sovereignty claims over the Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas). As a countermove, Lula announced Mercosur-Japan negotiations during the G7 summit.
Before departing for Paraguay, Milei will meet on Monday, June 29, 2026, in Buenos Aires with Brazilian Senator Flavio Bolsonaro, son of former President Jair Bolsonaro and a leading opposition candidate against Lula in the October 2026 presidential elections. The meeting takes place during a conference organized by the Israel Allies Foundation. Sources close to the Argentine government make no secret of their preference for Lula's electoral defeat.
The possible reincorporation of Venezuela into Mercosur is not officially on the agenda but circulates in diplomatic corridors. The issue gained relevance following the earthquakes of June 24, 2026, which left more than 1,400 dead and nearly 70,000 missing.
Argentina maintains its veto. The reasons:
The summit takes place in a complex regional context, with Brazil questioning Argentina's rapprochement with the United States, while the Venezuela debate resurfaces after the humanitarian tragedy affecting the Caribbean nation.
Source: Infobae
Alfredo S. Quiroga
