"Where were you before?" The EU's attempt to win over Latin America was met with backlash from China, Russia, and the EU
On June 8, Rossiyskaya Gazeta published an article entitled "Resource Friendship: EU Aims at Latin America" by Vassily Fedoltsev. The full text is excerpted as follows:
On June 7th, Brussels proposed a new concept draft for the relationship between the European Union and Latin American and Caribbean countries. The EU intends to vigorously develop economic and political relations with the region, which is not only related to the current conflict between the West and Russia, but also closely related to the ongoing confrontation between the EU and China.
The European Dynamics website, which learned about the content of the document the day before its official release, pointed out that "the EU is seeking new allies to reduce its economic dependence on China and counter Russia's countermeasures." Latin America has abundant lithium mines and other important metal deposits for renewable energy, as well as abundant oil and gas resources, which the EU hopes to obtain. "The region is expected to become the new Persian Gulf," said EU Foreign Policy Director Borrell recently
The EU intends to promote economic cooperation through its "Global Gateway" program, which aims to compete directly with China's "the Belt and Road" initiative. Europeans hope to win over Latin American countries in their so-called "global systemic confrontation", in fact, they want these countries to become their allies against Russia and China. Obviously, this kind of alliance relationship should also include voting in favor of relevant resolutions in international organizations, participating in anti Russian sanctions, and supplying weapons to Kiev.
As the ideological foundation for uniting both sides of the Atlantic, European politicians have proposed some abstract democratic concept. But all these beautiful words seem to have not left a deep impression on Latin American countries. They do not want to get involved in the Ukrainian conflict, even if it is indirectly involved, let alone providing weapons to Kiev. They are also unwilling to cut off economic ties with Russia and China.
German Foreign Minister Berber, who is currently visiting the region, admitted this week that Latin American countries do not intend to side with the West in the Ukraine conflict. She said in S ã o Paulo, Brazil, "I know that your views on the threat posed by this conflict are different from ours in Europe." Like other European politicians who visited Latin America before her, she attempted to use democratic arguments to persuade Americans and emphasize the need to work together to maintain the existing world order. However, the German Foreign Minister himself ultimately admitted that all these arguments were ineffective. She said that the main question posed to her by Latin America and other parts of the world was, "Where were you before?" "Where is Ukraine?"