Fresh from an incident with Venezuela which delayed and displaced a Unasur meeting, the Uruguayan government is looking for closer relations with the conservative administration of Paraguay, putting the emphasis on regional integration but also in making Mercosur a more open and dynamic trade and cooperation block.
The Uruguayan economy is decelerating gradually after a decade of strong and inclusive growth. Export receipts are growing at a markedly lower clip than a few years ago and domestic demand growth is slowing towards a more sustainable pace. At the same time, inflation remains above the target range and the primary fiscal balance has weakened further in 2014.
Tabare Vazquez was sworn in as president of Uruguay Sunday, returning to office a decade after first leading the centre left catch-all coalition to power and drawing a curtain on folksy farmer Jose Mujica's colorful rule. Vazquez, a cancer doctor with a more buttoned-down style than the outspoken Mujica, won 53.6% of the vote in a November 30 presidential run-off, reclaiming the office he previously held from 2005 to 2010.
President Nicolas Maduro said his government had captured American citizens involved in espionage activities, and said US citizens in the future will have to seek visas to come to Venezuela. Speaking during a rally, he said his government will prohibit some US officials from entering Venezuela in retaliation for a similar measure by the government of President Barack Obama against a group of Venezuelan public officials.
Argentina's Secretary General to the Presidency Anibal Fernández hit back to ex president of Uruguay Jorge Batlle who on Wednesday said Argentina’s Cristina Fernandez “hopes to be sacked from the government.”
Former Uruguayan President Jorge Batlle said that Argentine President Cristina Fernandez “wants to be kicked out of government”, replicating Argentine opposition comments.
British ambassadors in Chile, Brazil and Uruguay, Fiona Clouder, Alex W Ellis and Ben Lyster-Binns, respectively visited the Falkland Islands on a familiarization tour and to try to establish closer links with the Islands.
Argentina's Cabinet Chief Jorge Capitanich on Monday responded to Uruguay’s President José “Pepe” Mujica, who accused Argentina of “forgetting about integration” when things go right for the country, saying the statement was “unfair” given Argentina’s role in the “foundation” of regional integration.
The Permanent Council of the Organization of American States (OAS) received a presentation by Uruguay's foreign minister Luis Almagro, in his capacity as candidate for Secretary General of the Organization, in a special meeting that took place at the headquarters of the OAS in Washington DC.
The Secretary General of the Organization of American States (OAS), José Miguel Insulza, met on Wednesday with the only current candidate to succeed him in office, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Uruguay, Luis Almagro, at the headquarters of the Organization in Washington, DC.