
Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva landed in Santa Cruz de la Sierra on Monday evening straight from the 64th Mercosur Summit in Asunción with an entourage of some 100 businessmen from his country to explore opportunities in the new full regional bloc member.

Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Sillva seized his speech Monday during the 64th Southern Common Market's Summit in Asunción to underline his Argentine colleague Javier Milei's absence without mentioning him explicitly.

Minutes before passing Mercosur's rotating presidency to Uruguay's Luis Lacalle Pou, Paraguayan head of state Santiago Peña pointed out Monday that during his 6-month tenure achievements had been made, albeit amid painful setbacks that have existed since the alliance was created. In addition, the Colorado ruler once again underlined the importance of fighting corruption and drug trafficking.

Argentine President Javier Milei will not be traveling to Asunción for the upcoming Mercosur Summit in the Paraguayan capital on July 8 in a move to avoid meeting face-to-face with his Brazilian colleague Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, whom he dubbed a corrupt Communist during his campaign last year and who insists an apology is in order. Last week the Argentine leader claimed there was nothing to be sorry for and that he would not go back on telling the truth. Foreign Minister Diana Mondino will represent Milei at the regional bloc's gathering.

Next month, from Thursday, July 4th to 8th, the Mercosur pro tempore presidency will be handed by Paraguay to Uruguay, at the capital Asunción during the regional presidential summit. On the occasion, Paraguayan president Santiago Peña will be giving the Mercosur presidency to Uruguay's Luis Lacalle Pou. Still, it will be interesting to see how leaders of the two major members, Argentina's ultra-liberal Javier Milei and Brazil's populist Lula da Silva, who are not on talking terms, will approach circumstances if they effectively attend the summit.

Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva was strongly critical of his country's Central Bank's (BCB) decision not to lower the benchmark Selic interest rate this week and leave it at 10.5% per annum instead.

Argentine President Javier Milei joined the list of dignitaries endorsing the Bürgenstock Declaration in favor of peace in Ukraine while Brazil's Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva was among those very few who did not because in his view only negotiations involving both belligerent parties (Ukraine and Russia) were worth considering.

Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva Monday received a call from his Russian colleague Vladimir Putin to discuss ongoing world affairs including the war in Ukraine and BRICS' possible role in solving that conflict.

Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva will be attending this week's G7 Summit in Borgo Egnazia at the invitation of Prime Minister Georgia Meloni with a mission to focus on social inclusion and climate change, Agencia Brasil reported.

According to a report from Brazil's Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE) released Tuesday, the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of South America's largest country grew 0.8% in the first quarter of 2024 compared to the last three months of 2023 and 2.5% interannually after a 0.1% contraction in the fourth quarter of last year.