Montevideo, Uruguay – In his inaugural address, Uruguay's newly appointed Foreign Minister, Mario Lubetkin, outlined a strategic vision focused on reinforcing regional integration and expanding global partnerships. A central theme of his speech was the commitment to strengthening Mercosur, the South American trade bloc, and advancing Uruguay's participation within it.

"It is essential to preserve and improve Mercosur," Lubetkin stated, emphasizing the need for Uruguay to play a dynamic role in ensuring the bloc's continued solidity and progress. He highlighted the importance of fostering an environment where member states remain committed and comfortable within this "strategic space of integration."

Lubetkin also addressed the highly anticipated agreement between Mercosur and the European Union, a topic recently discussed by the presidents of Uruguay and Germany. He pledged to work closely with key European partners, including Spain, Italy, and Germany, to finalize this agreement, which he described as a crucial strategic objective for the next five years. He made sure to add that this agreement will be one of the most important markets in the world, due to the participation of 31 countries.

The Foreign Minister underscored the significance of the numerous bilateral meetings held during President Yamandú Orsi's inauguration. These engagements, he noted, yielded a wealth of proposals, commitments, and invitations for Uruguay to enhance its bilateral and multilateral engagements on the global stage.

A particularly noteworthy development is the invitation extended by Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva for President Orsi to attend the BRICS summit in June. Lubetkin characterized this invitation as a "qualitative change in dialogue" between Uruguay and the major emerging economies of the BRICS nations. He emphasized the potential for Uruguay to leverage this opportunity to strengthen its bilateral ties with countries spanning from China and India to South Africa and Egypt.

The inauguration ceremony, held at the Palacio Santos, the Foreign Ministry's headquarters, was attended by President Orsi, Vice President Carolina Cosse, and several former Uruguayan foreign ministers. This gathering of diplomatic leaders underscored the continuity and importance of Uruguay's foreign policy.

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