
Uruguayan Foreign Minister Mario Lubetkin addressed several key issues Tuesday in Montevideo, including international trade agreements, diplomatic concerns regarding passports, and regional and global relations.

Some 200 Uruguayan peacekeeping troops intended for the United Nations (UN) mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) are currently stranded in Rwanda, unable to enter their country of destination, with their passage blocked by the M23 rebel group, which has effectively replaced the formal authorities.

Uruguay is currently debating a potential reduction in its maximum legal work week from 48 to 40 hours, a significant discussion for a country that pioneered the eight-hour workday over a century ago. The Ministry of Labor and Social Security (MTSS) is facilitating dialogues between unions, businesses, and economic experts to explore this possibility.

The Uruguayan Government of President Yamandú Orsi will be reversing its decision to exclude the place of birth from new passports, which resulted in a ban on entry or visa processing for holders of these documents by France and Germany. The change, implemented in April 2025, sought to align with International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) recommendations, but the absence of this information sparked international rejection.

Uruguay's Acting Foreign Minister Valeria Csukasi and Undersecretary of the Interior Gabriela Valverde on Thursday summoned the French and German ambassadors for consultations regarding the crisis stemming from the new passport format hindering entry and visa applications.

Uruguay's Foreign Minister, Mario Lubetkin, signed the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation (TAC) with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) this week during the 58th ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, thus bolstering the South American country's diplomatic and economic ties with the region.

Uruguayan President Yamandú Orsi returned Wednesday from the BRICS summit in Rio de Janeiro, achieving significant diplomatic successes. Notably, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa extended a formal invitation for Uruguay to attend the upcoming G-20 summit. Additionally, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi confirmed plans to establish an Indian embassy in Uruguay.

France and Germany are implementing entry restrictions to Uruguayan nationals holding passports issued on or after April 23, 2025, which prevents travel to these two European countries and affects visa applications for people with the new document.

Chilean President Gabriel Boric Font will host a High-Level Meeting Democracy Forever Summit on July 21 at the Palacio de la Moneda in Santiago with fellow progressive Presidents Yamandú Orsi (Uruguay), Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (Brazil), and Gustavo Petro (Colombia), in addition to Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez.

Uruguay's year-on-year inflation rate dropped to 4.59% in June, marking its fourth consecutive monthly decline. This figure is very close to Uruguay's Central Bank (BCU) target of 4.5% and keeps inflation within the 3% to 6% tolerance range for the 25th consecutive month.