Lula reinforces historic partnership between Brazil and Uruguay to promote South American integration

President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva was present at the inauguration ceremony of the constitutional oath of office by the elected President of the Oriental Republic of Uruguay, Yamandú Orsi, and the elected Vice President Carolina Cosse in the early afternoon on Saturday, March 1. The event took place in the plenary of the General Assembly of the Legislative Branch.

Lula’s attendance at the ceremony underscored Brazil's commitment to its historic partnership with Uruguay and the advancement of South American integration. "The relationship between Brazil and Uruguay is one of brotherly nations," Lula proclaimed, emphasizing the extraordinary nature of the bilateral relationship that has flourished over many years. "We believe that the election of the Broad Front has rekindled our discussions on important matters," he noted, with special mention of the strengthening of Mercosur and the revitalizatio of the Union of South American Nations (UNASUR). "Our role is to try to convince people that a strong bloc must be formed in South America — that we cannot try to find an individual solution for each country, because this is not possible: the world is divided into blocs," emphasized Lula.

Our role is to try to convince people that a strong bloc must be formed in South America — that we cannot try to find an individual solution for each country, because this is not possible: the world is divided into blocs”
LUIZ INÁCIO LULA DA SILVA
President of Brazil/em>

This week, Lula also engaged in discussions with Orsi, as well as with Chilean President Gabriel Boric and Colombian President Gustavo Petro, focusing on the defense of democracy and measures against extremism and the malicious use of social media. Orsi had met with Lula in November 2024, shortly after his election, where he advocated for regional integration and strengthened ties with European nations.

Yamandú Orsi, 57, a history teacher and former mayor, hails from the left-wing coalition Broad Front [Frente Amplio], backed by former President José “Pepe” Mujica. The Brazil-Uruguay relationship is marked by comprehensive cooperation, with emphasis on initiatives aimed at developing the border region and bolstering Mercosur.

Lula’s delegation included ministers Mauro Vieira (Foreign Affairs), Paulo Teixeira (Agrarian Development), Luciana Santos (Science, Technology, and Innovation), Alexandre Silveira (Mines and Energy), and the special advisor to the Presidency, Celso Amorim, along with Gleisi Hoffmann, the incoming minister for the Secretariat of Institutional Relations (Secretaria de Relações Institucionais/SRI).

The inauguration ceremony took place in the plenary hall of the General Assembly of the Legislative Branch in Montevideo (Uruguay) - Image: Ricardo Stuckert / PR

MULTILATERALISM — Shortly before Orsi’sinauguration, Lula met with President of Germany Frank-Walter Steinmeier. "We discussed the importance of Latin American and European Union countries acting in defense of democracy and multilateralism,” said the President. According to Lula, Germany is an essential partner of Brazil in promoting the Mercosur-European Union agreement, in the effort to combat climate change, and in favor of the success of COP30.

“The world needs to solve the temperature problem — and COP30 requires rich countries, which no longer have forests, to help finance countries that do have forests so that we can keep global warming to 1.5°C,”  he pointed out.

Lula and Steinmeier also addressed the European Union's perspective of the conflict between Russia and Ukraine. For three years, the Brazilian President emphasized, Brazil has been stating the need to find an agreed solution. "We made a proposal for an agreement with China so that the world could discuss the possibility of ending this war," he observed. "I believe there will be no peace if two presidents who are in conflict do not participate. What is needed is to make the right decision if the world wants peace. I believe the world needs peace. I have been saying that a lot of money has been spent on this war, 2 trillion and 300 billion dollars have been spent on weapons, when in fact they do not want to spend anything to maintain the countries that have forests, to keep their forests standing. That is the first thing!" stressed Lula.

STRENGTHENING DEMOCRACY — Early in the morning, Lula met with Ecuador’s presidential candidate Luisa González, for a conversation about the political lanscape in South America. "We concurred on the significance of reinforcing democracy and social justice on the continent," said Lula, who also said he expected the elections in Ecuador to be held peacefully and normally.

At the end of the afternoon, Lula met with the former president of Uruguay Pepe Mujica. "Whenever Mujica speaks, I respect him a lot, because Mujica is one of those people who are above average human beings," he said. The last time he went to Uruguay, Lula visited the former Uruguayan head of State and decorated him with Brazil's highest honor: the National Order of the Southern Cross.