International
President of Brazil meets with his Argentine counterpart
May 3 |
The President of Brazil, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva received on Tuesday the President of Argentina, Alberto Fernández at the Alvorada Palace, Brasilia, as part of the bilateral agenda of both countries.
“From the political point of view, I committed with my friend Alberto Fernandez, to do everything and any sacrifice so that we can help Argentina in this difficult moment,” said the Brazilian president in a joint press conference after the meeting.
In this sense, Lula emphasized that he has spoken with the Brics group (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa), and revealed his intention to talk with the International Monetary Fund (IMF), so that it does not continue to pressure Argentina for the payment of the debt.
“The IMF knows to whom it lent the money, and therefore it cannot continue pressuring a country that only wants to grow, generate jobs and improve the life of the people”, he said.
Likewise, the dignitary pointed out that in this way, Brazilian businessmen who export to Argentina are also helped. “We are discussing to find a way for our exporters to keep their companies working and thus imports between Brazil and Argentina can continue to grow”.
For his part, the Argentine president highlighted the importance of the meeting held for more than four hours, where aspects related to the complicated economic situation of his country due to the drought were reviewed, and solutions were put in place.
“They have made the decision to help Brazilian companies to continue exporting to Argentina and they had asked us to do some homework that we have done, they have to do with the necessary guarantees so that Brazil can favor those credits”, said President Fernandez.
Alberto Fernández also celebrated the explicit position that Brazil has taken with respect to Argentina and the IMF.
“As you know, we are negotiating with the Fund the program that we committed at the time because the conditions have changed, and knowing that now we can count on the help of Brazil and President Lula is of great value for us”, he assured.
According to the Casa Rosada, the Argentine delegation was represented by the Chief of Cabinet, Agustín Rossi; the Ministers of Economy, Sergio Massa, and of Foreign Affairs, International Trade and Worship, Santiago Cafiero; the Argentine Ambassador to Brazil, Daniel Scioli; the Secretary General of the Presidency, Julio Vitobello, and the spokesperson of the Presidency, Gabriela Cerruti.
On April 27, both presidents spoke by videoconference on cooperation relations, in addition to offering assessments on the role of the Union of South American Nations (Unasur).
International
U.S. and Mexico Reach Deal to Address Water Deficit Under 1944 Treaty
The United States and Mexico have reached an agreement to comply with current water obligations affecting U.S. farmers and ranchers and for Mexico to cover its water deficit to Texas under the 1944 Water Treaty, the U.S. Department of Agriculture said in a statement.
The department уточified that the agreement applies to both the current cycle and the water deficit from the previous cycle.
On Monday, U.S. President Donald Trump accused Mexico of failing to comply with the water-sharing treaty between the two countries, which requires the United States to deliver 1.85 billion cubic meters of water from the Colorado River, while Mexico must supply 432 million cubic meters from the Rio Grande.
Mexico is behind on its commitments. According to Washington, the country has accumulated a deficit of more than one billion cubic meters of water over the past five years.
“This violation is severely harming our beautiful crops and our livestock in Texas,” Trump wrote on Monday.
The Department of Agriculture said on Friday that Mexico had agreed to supply 250 million cubic meters of water starting next week and to work toward closing the shortfall.
Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins, quoted in the statement, said Mexico delivered more water in a single year than it had over the previous four years combined.
Trump has said that if Mexico continues to fall short of its obligations, the United States reserves the right to impose 5% tariffs on imported Mexican products.
Mexico’s Deputy Foreign Minister for North America, Roberto Velasco, said that a severe drought in 2022 and 2023prevented the country from meeting its commitments.
International
Several people shot in attack on Brown University campus
Several people were shot on Saturday in an attack on the campus of Brown University, in the northeastern United States, local police reported.
“Shelter in place and avoid the area until further notice,” the Providence Police Department urged in a post on X. Brown University is located in Providence, the capital of the state of Rhode Island.
U.S. President Donald Trump said on his social media platform Truth Social that he had been briefed on the situation and that the FBI was on the scene.
At 5:52 p.m. local time (11:52 p.m. GMT), Brown University said the situation was still “ongoing” and instructed students to remain sheltered until further notice.
After initially stating that the suspect had been taken into custody, Trump later posted a second message clarifying that local police had walked back that information. “The suspect has NOT been apprehended,” the U.S. president said.
International
Colombia says it would not reject Maduro asylum request as regional tensions escalate
The Colombian government stated on Thursday that it would have no reason to reject a potential asylum request from Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro should he leave office, as regional tensions persist over the deployment of U.S. military forces in the Caribbean since August.
“In the current climate of tension, negotiations are necessary, and if the United States demands a transition or political change, that is something to be assessed. If such a transition results in him (Maduro) needing to live elsewhere or seek protection, Colombia would have no reason to deny it,” said Colombian Foreign Minister Rosa Villavicencio in an interview with Caracol Radio.
However, Villavicencio noted that it is unlikely Maduro would choose Colombia as a refuge. “I believe he would opt for someplace more distant and calmer,” she added.
Colombian President Gustavo Petro also commented on Venezuela’s situation on Wednesday, arguing that the country needs a “democratic revolution” rather than “inefficient repression.” His remarks followed the recent detention and passport cancellation of Cardinal Baltazar Porras at the Caracas airport.
“The Maduro government must understand that responding to external aggression requires more than military preparations; it requires a democratic revolution. A country is defended with more democracy, not more inefficient repression,” Petro wrote on X (formerly Twitter), in a rare public criticism of the Venezuelan leader.
Petro also called for a general amnesty for political opponents and reiterated his call for forming a broad transitional government to address Venezuela’s prolonged crisis.
Since September, U.S. military forces have destroyed more than 20 vessels allegedly carrying drugs in Caribbean and Pacific waters near Venezuela and Colombia, resulting in over 80 deaths.
U.S. President Donald Trump has repeatedly warned that attacks “inside Venezuela” will begin “soon,” while Maduro has urged Venezuelans to prepare for what he describes as an impending external aggression.
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