KEY POINTS
- Uruguay’s Foreign Minister Mario Lubetkin praised India’s BRICS leadership and Prime Minister Modi’s role in achieving the New Delhi Declaration.
- Lubetkin outlined plans to deepen India-Uruguay ties through bilateral cooperation, Mercosur-India negotiations, and regional engagement via CELAC.
- India’s opening of an embassy in Uruguay and upcoming high-level visits signal a new phase in diplomatic and economic relations.
Uruguay’s Foreign Minister Mario Lubetkin has commended India’s leadership of BRICS and Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s role in achieving consensus on the New Delhi Declaration, while outlining plans to deepen bilateral relations and advance cooperation through Mercosur and CELAC.
According to a report by IANS in Telangana Today, Lubetkin described the outcome of the BRICS Summit as an incredible success, noting that despite divergent geopolitical positions, a serious, concrete, and consensus-based final declaration was achieved on the first day.
“There were different protagonists involved in some of the ongoing wars and conflicts, but I think the Prime Minister and the Government of India, as the chair of the meeting, were able to facilitate the process and achieve consensus,” Lubetkin told IANS. “That shows India as one of the key leaders at this moment, especially in the Global South.”
Lubetkin emphasized that the success of the summit was both an Indian and a personal success for Prime Minister Modi, highlighting Modi’s interactions with world leaders and his announcement of consensus as evidence of his pivotal role.
During his visit to New Delhi, Lubetkin held meetings with Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal and External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar. He stated that the discussions focused on deepening and expanding the relationship between India and Uruguay, building on the meeting between Prime Minister Modi and Uruguayan President Yamandu Orsi at the 2025 BRICS Summit in Rio de Janeiro.
“I was very impressed by Prime Minister Modi because he came to that meeting with a piece of paper beside him on which he had outlined his vision for the relationship over the next 10 to 15 years,” Lubetkin said. He expressed hope that both countries could achieve their goals before President Orsi’s planned visit to India in October 2027.
Lubetkin outlined three tracks for cooperation: bilateral engagement in areas such as economy, culture, audiovisual cooperation (including Bollywood), and sports; the launch of the next step in negotiations between Mercosur and India; and regional cooperation through Uruguay’s chairs of Mercosur and CELAC.
Later this month, Lubetkin and Jaishankar are scheduled to meet again in New York, where a meeting between Latin American and Caribbean ministers through CELAC is expected to take place to deepen regional ties with India.
“In Uruguay, this is a time for India,” Lubetkin said, noting India’s growing global strength. He also mentioned that India has opened an embassy in Uruguay for the first time and expressed hope that External Affairs Minister Jaishankar will visit Uruguay in the coming months to inaugurate it.
Strategic Implications for Uruguay’s Investment Climate
The strengthening of India-Uruguay relations, particularly through Mercosur and CELAC, signals a diversification of Uruguay’s international partnerships that could enhance its appeal as a stable investment destination. For foreign investors and expats, deeper ties with India may lead to increased trade flows, infrastructure cooperation, and cultural exchanges, potentially boosting sectors such as technology, agriculture, and tourism. Uruguay’s active role in regional blocs and its pursuit of long-term agreements underscore its commitment to economic openness and diplomatic engagement, factors that contribute to a favorable environment for high-net-worth individuals seeking residency or investment opportunities in the country.
