President Lula da Silva of Brazil and Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez engaged in crucial phone talks, centering on the contentious Mercosur-EU free trade deal rocked by French farmer demonstrations. Venezuela’s woes also featured prominently.
Lula hailed Spain’s endorsement of the pact as a progressive move safeguarding multilateral trade norms. The mega-deal would unite Europe’s 27 members with Mercosur’s quartet, turbocharging EU shipments of autos, machinery, and beverages to Latin markets.
However, French agriculturists protest vehemently, dreading cheap imports eroding their competitive edge and profitability. Mercosur’s mission to bind South America’s economies amplifies these stakes.
On Venezuela, the leaders reinforced a joint communique from Chile, Colombia, Mexico, Uruguay against illicit force, per UN standards. They applauded the release of detainees, including four Spaniards, by Assembly head Jorge Rodriguez.
Lula spotlighted Brazil’s dispatch of 40 metric tons of dialysis gear and drugs to aid a US bombing-damaged facility. Both agreed on the urgency of Spain’s forthcoming ‘Defending Democracy Against Extremism’ event.
Interim leader Delcy Rodriguez conferenced with the trio, decrying US-weaponized strikes on Venezuela causing deaths among civilians and troops. She urged advancing a bilateral agenda via legal, sovereign dialogue.
This dialogue reflects deepening Brazil-Spain ties, navigating trade frictions and Latin flashpoints toward collaborative futures.