The EU wants to expand relations with Latin America and quickly conclude a free trade pact with the Mercosur states. But Foreign Minister Baerbock and EU chief diplomat Borrell are embarrassing themselves.
The EU Commission wants to intensify political and economic relations with Latin America and the Caribbean. The responsible EU Commissioner Dombrovskis presented an "agenda" and spoke of a "new start".
But in practice it is more likely to be a false start. The EU foreign affairs commissioner Borrell, who presented the plan together with Dombrovskis, did not say a word about Brazil's demand for a peace plan in Ukraine.
Borrell is counting on a victory on the battlefield. The EU "chief diplomat" does not have his own peace plan, and he is at odds with Brazil's President Lula. German Foreign Minister Baerbock feels the same way.
No interest in Baerbock
During her visit to Brazil, she was received neither by Lula nor by Foreign Minister Vieira. Moreover, she got herself into hot water with her notoriously undiplomatic remarks.
Baerbock publicly outraged that the price of "rice and beans" was more important to Brazilians than support for Ukraine. This in turn outraged her hosts, who took her to task.
"The complicated friend has other things to do", mocked the "FAZ". Baerbock had no luck in Colombia either: because of the EU's controversial asylum compromise, she had to cut short her programme.
Apparently, it was more important to bring the German Greens in line - because they are outraged about the EU deal. They are also not happy about the planned Mercosur agreement.
But exactly this - free trade - is the hard core of the freshly polished EU-Latin America strategy...
More on the Mercosur deal here. The original post (in German) is here
P. S. Meanwhile, Labour Minister Heil is poaching well-trained workers in Brazil who don't speak German but are supposed to take care of our old and sick. No punch line...