German Chancellor Olaf Scholz embarks on a four-day trip to Latin America on Saturday, where he expects to meet with the heads of government of Argentina, Chile and Brazil on his first visit to the region since taking office at the end of 2021, DPA agency reported.
The first stop is Buenos Aires, the Argentine capital, followed by Chile on Sunday and a two-day visit to Brazil, where he will meet with his Brazilian counterpart, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, who was sworn in on January 1.
According to Scholz’s press office, the trip underlines «the importance of the region as a partner of the German government». In particular, the Chancellor hopes to deepen political and economic relations with Latin America.
He also hopes to address issues such as the fight against climate change, sustainable economic growth and socio-ecological transformation, as well as to present himself as a valuable partner for «a multipolar, rules-based international order».
Scholz, a Social Democrat, is visiting Latin America much earlier than his predecessor, the conservative Angela Merkel, who only visited the continent two and a half years after taking office.
The chancellor wants to expand Germany’s international relations and reduce its energy dependence on Russia after the Russian attack on Ukraine, which is why he has already been to Asia three times and has made an important trip to Africa.
Source: (EUROPA PRESS)
