MercoPress https://en.mercopress.com/ South Atlantic News Agency en Copyright 2026, MercoPress. https://en.mercopress.com/web/img/en/mercopress-logo.gif MercoPress http://en.mercopress.com/ <![CDATA[Uruguayan national admits to scheme to circumvent US sanctions linked to Venezuela]]> Irazmar Carbajal de Jesús agreed to transfer approximately $99,500, delivered in cash in the Dominican Republic, to a bank account in Fort Lauderdale, Florida A 60-year-old Uruguayan citizen pleaded guilty in a U.S. federal court to conspiring to operate an unlicensed money transmitting business in order to circumvent American sanctions linked to Venezuelan government officials, the Department of Justice announced on March 25.

]]> Fri, 03 Apr 2026 00:24:00 GMT <![CDATA[Low government approval deepens internal tensions within Uruguay's Frente Amplio]]> According to polling firm Factum's data for the first two months of 2026, President Yamandú Orsi's approval stands at 37%, against a disapproval rating of 41% Just over a year into the Frente Amplio's (FA) fourth administration, polls from Uruguay's leading survey firms show an unusual level of discontent among the left-wing coalition's own voters, intensifying internal disputes between its factions ahead of party elections expected in late 2026 or early 2027.

]]> Thu, 02 Apr 2026 10:41:00 GMT <![CDATA[Drug parcels from the US intercepted in Uruguay; two convicted on trafficking charges]]> Authorities said the operations are part of ongoing enforcement actions at strategic entry points across the country to combat drug trafficking Uruguay's National Customs Directorate reported the arrest and conviction of two people on drug trafficking charges following a series of operations at Carrasco International Airport, on the outskirts of Montevideo, involving the interception of international parcels and passenger screening.

]]> Mon, 30 Mar 2026 01:13:00 GMT <![CDATA[Uruguay raises fuel prices 7% over Middle East war and shifts to monthly price-setting]]> Under the adjustment, Super 95 gasoline will rise from 76.88 to 82.27 pesos per liter, while 50S diesel will increase from 47.32 to 50.63 pesos per liter Uruguay's government announced on Friday a 7% fuel price increase effective April 1, as a direct consequence of rising oil prices driven by the U.S.-Israeli war against Iran and the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz, through which approximately 20% of the world's crude oil supply transits.

]]> Fri, 27 Mar 2026 23:04:00 GMT <![CDATA[Uruguay considers with “interest” British offer of three Royal Navy offshore patrol vessels]]> One of the vessels, the HMS Mersey, is a River-class offshore patrol vessel of the British Royal Navy Uruguay's government is considering with “interest” a British offer to acquire three Royal Navy offshore patrol vessels (OPVs), according to El Observador, citing sources at the executive offices. The proposal involves first-generation River-class vessels — HMS Tyne, HMS Mersey, and HMS Severn — operational since 2003 and scheduled for decommissioning in 2028 as part of the British fleet renewal under NATO's defense spending commitments.

]]> Fri, 27 Mar 2026 19:50:00 GMT <![CDATA[Uruguay: Economy Minister reveals daily U.S. pressure to break commercial ties with China]]> The minister warned that if Uruguay does not comply with Washington's demands, its commercial relationship with the Trump administration “will not improve and could get worse” Uruguay's Economy Minister Gabriel Oddone disclosed to business leaders that the United States is exerting "unimaginable" and "unsustainable" pressure on the country to "break" its trade relationship with China, according to the weekly newspaper Búsqueda, citing several attendees at a private meeting with the Confederation of Business Chambers (CCE) held on Tuesday, March 24.

]]> Thu, 26 Mar 2026 18:37:00 GMT <![CDATA[Uruguay's economy grew 1.8% in 2025, falling short of official forecasts]]> Economy Minister Gabriel Oddone acknowledged last week that economic activity is running below expectations and signaled a likely downward revision of 2026 growth projections, currently set at 2.2% Uruguay's economy grew 1.8% in 2025, according to national accounts data published by the Central Bank of Uruguay (BCU). The result fell nearly a full percentage point below the 2.6% forecast included in the government's budget law and was also lower than the 2.5% estimated by the International Monetary Fund.

]]> Wed, 25 Mar 2026 19:52:00 GMT <![CDATA[USS Nimitz to operate in Uruguayan waters on final deployment before decommissioning]]> The Latin American voyage will conclude when the Nimitz reaches the US Atlantic coast to begin the decommissioning process. The nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN-68), flagship of the United States Navy for more than five decades, will arrive in Uruguayan waters in the coming weeks as part of the “Southern Seas 2026” deployment, the US Fourth Fleet announced.

]]> Tue, 24 Mar 2026 21:36:00 GMT <![CDATA[Uruguay to seek damages after Spanish shipyard Cardama fails to appeal OPV contract termination]]> The contract, signed under the administration of former president Luis Lacalle Pou, provided for the construction of two OPV vessels for Uruguay’s Navy Spanish shipyard Cardama did not file an appeal against the Uruguayan government’s decision to terminate the contract for the purchase of two offshore patrol vessels for the Navy, meaning the measure is now final and the Ministry of Defence will move ahead with a claim for damages. The confirmation came on Thursday from Presidential Secretary Jorge Díaz.

]]> Thu, 19 Mar 2026 22:59:00 GMT <![CDATA[Government targets faster state processes with new economic reform package]]> Oddone argued that the macroeconomic margin has already been largely exhausted and that the current bottlenecks lie in opaque price formation, slow procedures and overlapping controls Uruguayan President Yamandú Orsi and Economy Minister Gabriel Oddone said the government will send a competitiveness and innovation bill to Congress on May 31, focused on foreign trade, competition policy, innovation and administrative simplification. The initiative was launched alongside a call for unions, business chambers and academia to submit proposals by April 24.

]]> Wed, 18 Mar 2026 11:12:00 GMT