The EU seeks closer ties with Latin America amid competition between the US and China, Foreign Policy writes on March 31.
The leaders of Spain and Portugal, together with the head of EU diplomacy, Josep Borrell, said they want to improve relations with Latin America. Santo Domingo, the capital of the Dominican Republic, hosted the Ibero-American Summit last weekend, where the region’s leaders were briefed on the restart, the newspaper writes.
Although the leaders of Spain and Portugal meet every year in this forum with the leaders of their former colonies, 2023 is a “key year” to reactivate broader relations between Europe and Latin America, Borrell said. Spain will assume the EU presidency in July and Madrid has used that authority to set priorities for the EU-CELAC summit in Brussels this month.
Spain and Latin America have already become close over the consequences of the sanctions against Russia. Madrid has turned to Brazil and Mexico to replace Russian oil supplies and also wants countries in the region to vote against Moscow at the UN.
According to Borel, there is another reason to strengthen ties between the EU and Latin America: while China and the United States move towards protectionism, Latin America and Europe must unite to demonstrate that “trade relations continue to be a source of progress.” .
Among other things, King Felipe VI of Spain said the EU is preparing to announce a series of direct investments in the Latin American economy at the EU-CELAC summit in July.
Source: Rossa Primavera
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