Europe appears to be engaged in a diplomatic offensive in South America. This according to an analysis by Politico. Several European leaders have visited the continent in recent months, such as Prime Minister Rutte who recently traveled to Brazil for a meeting with President Lula. “China has invested a lot there and Europe is having a hard time,” says journalist Geert Jan Hahn.
Already last year the Spanish newspaper El PaÃs wrote that the European Commission would like to strengthen ties with South America, which has been on the back burner since 2015. As president of the European Union, Spain wants to play a pioneering role in this by the end of the year.
“I don’t want to say that South America was bought by China, but they’ve managed it professionally, they’ve started investing, and Europe is having a tough time,” says Hahn. In addition to Rutte’s visit to Lula, the British Foreign Secretary is in South America this week. The German Foreign Minister will also go, while Chancellor Schulz has already done so.
Raw material
“This just doesn’t work in a European context,” says Hahn. ‘If you want to make a good impression as a geopolitical player, like the EU, in South America, for example, then you want to safeguard your interests there. For example when it comes to raw materials». But without a European foreign minister it is very difficult, Hahn thinks. “If we had a big fund that all countries put money into to finance big infrastructure projects, that would work well.”
In this sense, Hahn is concerned about the reconstruction of Ukraine. ‘All countries will invest in this in their own way. But you really make great progress when you have a big European pot.’
Source: BNR
Sharon Rock is an author and journalist who writes for 24 News Globe. She has a passion for learning about different cultures and understanding the complexities of the world. With a talent for explaining complex global issues in an accessible and engaging way, Sharon has become a respected voice in the field of world news journalism.
