Fernando Frazão/Agência Brasil
The G20 summit will take place in Rio de Janeiro
Brazil, Mexico and Argentina: the only Latin American countries that are part of the G20, present more divergences than convergences, which prevents the defense of a single Latin agenda. Experts interviewed by Agência Brasil explain that, although they are part of the same region and converge in some aspects, the three countries have different economic policies or political positions, which makes them closer to the other nations that make up the group than to each other.
“There has never been a Latin American agenda in the G20,” claims the professor of the Institute of International Relations and Defense of the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (IRID-UFRJ), coordinator of the South American Political Observatory, Marianna Albuquerque. “This arises from national issues that differentiate these countries. Given that the G20 is primarily an economic and financial bloc, there are three countries that have different perceptions regarding the level of commitment and depth that multilateral engagements in this area should have.”
Mexico is a party to the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), along with the United States and Canada, for free trade in the region. Argentina, on the other hand, follows different domestic macroeconomic plans than Brazil, according to Albuquerque. These factors, according to the professor, guide the decision-making process of these countries on the international scene and contribute to the lack of a unified agenda.
In addition to the economic context there is the political context. Under the command of Javier Milei, Argentina moves further away from Brazil. “In the Brazilian case, the government is committed to continuing and leading the debate on sustainable development, fighting poverty and hunger and reducing inequalities. Argentina, under the leadership of Milei, defends ideas belonging to the right field of the political spectrum and, in this sense, is critical of the ideas defended by Brazil within the group, such as taxation of the super-rich and progress in discussions on climate change”, explains Fernanda Nanci, professor of International Relations at the State University of Rio de Janeiro (Uerj), coordinator of the Center for Studies on Foreign Policy Actors and Agendas.
Mexico, led by Claudia Sheinbaum, with a center-left position, has greater affinities, especially on social issues, with Brazil. For associate professor of International Relations at the Institute of Strategic Studies of the Federal Fluminense University (UFF) Márcio José Melo Malta, the G20 summit is an opportunity for Brazil to strengthen ties with the country. “We have the newly installed president who recently confirmed his participation in the G20. We have this participation and we have greater convergence [dela] in political terms and ideological interests with Brazil. From this perspective, it is appropriate to strengthen the link with Latin America”, he says.
Even if they do not have a completely unified agenda, Márcio Malta believes that above all Mexico and Brazil converge and underlines that the strengthening of Latin America is a priority of the President of Brazil, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, who always seeks it in the international agendas. .
“Brazil and Mexico have actually tried to work in harmony. Argentina has historically been a key primary partnership for Brazil, but under Milei’s management this has not been the focus. President Lula, since his first two mandates, has tried to bring a South-South perspective. His foreign policy is well known in this field. And in this context, the Latin American region has always been a region of deep interest for developing partnerships, with a leadership role in mind,” he says.
Latin America not G20
The Group of Twenty (G20) is the main forum for international economic cooperation. It is made up of Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Mexico, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Turkey, the United Kingdom and the United States, as well as European
Since 2008, countries have alternated presidency. This is the first time Brazil has chaired the G20 in its current form. The country has defined the following priorities: social inclusion and the fight against hunger and poverty; promote sustainable development in its economic, social and environmental dimensions and energy transitions; and reform of global governance institutions, including the United Nations and multilateral development banks.
The G20 agenda is broad. Working group meetings, ministerial meetings and various bilateral meetings were held during the year. The meeting concludes with the summit bringing together the heads of state, on the 18th and 19th, in Rio de Janeiro.
Mexico’s tendency, according to the professor, is to move closer to the United States and Canada. “In some agendas, Mexico appears together with Brazil, but in all other debates regarding the reform of the international financial architecture or subsidy policy, Mexico negotiates with the United States and Canada, on behalf of the USMCA. We only associate Mexico’s position with Brazil’s when it comes to an issue that also affects the United States and Canada,” says Albuquerque.
Fernanda Nanci underlines the convergences between Brazil and Mexico: “Mexico has a history of active participation in the G20, in discussions and in defending the fight against inequalities. Like Brazil, it defends – as a developing country – funding so that Southern countries can implement the 2030 Agenda and fight the effects of climate change, actions to reduce poverty and economic inequality and also defends other issues closely linked to the Mexican reality, such as regular and safe migration,” he says.
Argentina, like Mexico and Brazil, according to Nanci, has historically used the G20 space to seek progress on social agendas, but under Milei’s presidency the scenario has changed. However, at the summit, the country will have to maintain diplomacy with Brazil, which is an important economic partner: “Argentina’s presence at the meeting will be a way for President Milei to better integrate into international discussions and to participate in an event important, considering that it had not previously prioritized participation in major multilateral events, such as this year’s Mercosur summit. Furthermore, it is a way to improve relations with Brazil, given the president’s constant criticism of the Brazilian president. However, we cannot lose sight of the fact that Brazil is the main destination for Argentine exports.”
Brazil is not the G20
As regards Brazil’s role in the presidency of the group, for Marianna Albuquerque the balance “is very positive”. He highlights the commitment of civil society as one of the main Brazilian successes and something unprecedented in the group’s meetings.
“It was a great achievement for Brazil to bring civil society into a multilateral system,” he says.
Albuquerque also highlights progress related to the bioeconomy, a concept that involves innovations based on biological resources, which result in the development of more sustainable products, processes and services. One of the main debates related to the topic is the replacement of fossil raw materials with less polluting ones. “The bioeconomy until then was a topic that the G20 did not work on and that it is very important that Brazil controls the narrative, because we are talking about genetic heritage and distribution of access and Brazil, both for forests and for the ocean, needs to be careful about this.”
Another important step forward, according to Albuquerque, was to make the climate agenda an economic priority. ”I think we have finally managed to make the Ministry of Finance realise that the climate is an economic agenda. I think that in this G20 there has been a turning point. It is useless that only the Ministry of the Environment is involved in the climate agenda, we need an ecological transformation plan”, he underlines.
What are the key challenges faced by Latin American countries in achieving a unified agenda at the G20 summit?
Engaging Interview: Time.news Editor Chats with International Relations Expert
Time.news Editor: Welcome to our segment today. With the G20 summit just around the corner, there’s a lot of discussion around the role of Latin America, especially Brazil, Mexico, and Argentina. Today, we’re joined by Professor Marianna Albuquerque, a leading expert from the Institute of International Relations and Defense at UFRJ. Professor, thank you for being here.
Professor Marianna Albuquerque: Thank you for having me. It’s a pleasure to discuss such important topics, especially as we prepare for the G20 summit in Rio de Janeiro.
Editor: Let’s dive right in. The article mentions that Brazil, Mexico, and Argentina have more divergences than convergences in their G20 positions. Could you elaborate on what these divergences are?
Professor Albuquerque: Absolutely. Each of these countries has unique economic policies and political landscapes that greatly influence their positions within the G20. For instance, Mexico is deeply integrated with the U.S. and Canada through the USMCA, which often takes its focus away from collaborating with Brazil and Argentina. Meanwhile, Argentina is pursuing distinct macroeconomic policies under President Javier Milei, which further complicates alignment with Brazil’s more progressive agenda.
Editor: Would you say that this lack of a unified Latin American agenda in the G20 is a significant drawback for the region?
Professor Albuquerque: Yes, it is quite significant. Without a cohesive agenda, it becomes challenging for these countries to advocate effectively for issues critical to the region. The G20 is a major forum for international economic cooperation, and without a united front, Latin America risks being overshadowed by larger economies.
Editor: Interesting. You mentioned the differing political stances of these countries. How do these political dynamics impact their G20 participation?
Professor Albuquerque: The political context is crucial. Brazil under President Lula is focused on sustainable development and reducing inequalities, pushing for progressive policies. In contrast, Argentina under Milei has shifted towards a more right-wing approach, often opposing Brazilian initiatives like taxing the super-rich or advancing discussions on climate change. This ideological divide creates barriers to collaborative policymaking.
Editor: Conversely, there’s some overlap between Brazil and Mexico’s ideologies, especially under President Claudia Sheinbaum. How significant is this relationship for the upcoming summit?
Professor Albuquerque: The relationship between Brazil and Mexico is indeed significant. Both nations share common ground on social issues and the fight against inequality. The G20 summit presents an opportunity for Brazil to strengthen ties with Mexico, which could lead to a more effective partnership in advocating for their mutual interests within the international arena. This is particularly important as President Lula seeks to elevate Latin America’s role on the global stage.
Editor: With Argentina’s current political climate, how do you see their participation in the G20 evolving, and what might be their objectives?
Professor Albuquerque: That’s a great question. Despite their current divergence, it is essential for Argentina to maintain diplomatic ties with Brazil, a key economic partner. President Milei’s attendance at the summit will serve as a chance to both integrate into international discussions and present Argentina positively on a global platform, even if their agenda diverges from Brazil’s.
Editor: I see. The G20 certainly seems like a pivotal stage for these nations. What do you think are Brazil’s main goals while chairing the G20 this year?
Professor Albuquerque: Brazil has articulated some clear priorities: promoting social inclusion, fighting hunger and poverty, sustainable development in all its dimensions, and reforming global governance institutions. These objectives align well with Lula’s long-standing foreign policy vision of enhancing Brazil’s leadership role in South-South cooperation.
Editor: A final question, Professor. How can we expect to see the outcomes of this year’s G20 shape future Latin American collaborations?
Professor Albuquerque: The outcomes will likely reveal whether Brazil can effectively leverage its leadership to foster collaboration within Latin America. If successful, it could pave the way for more structured regional cooperation in future G20 meetings. Conversely, if divergences persist, we may see continued fragmented engagement from Latin America in global discussions.
Editor: Thank you, Professor Albuquerque. Your insights on the dynamics of the G20 are invaluable, especially as we look forward to a significant event like this summit. We appreciate your time today.
Professor Albuquerque: Thank you for having me. I look forward to seeing how this summit unfolds.