Regional leaders gather in Paraguay as Mercosur prepares to debate trade, integration and the bloc’s economic agenda.
Chilean President José Antonio Kast and Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa arrived in Paraguay on Monday to attend the Mercosur Summit of Heads of State and Government, scheduled to take place Tuesday in the city of Luque.
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The visit marks the first official trip to Paraguay by both leaders since taking office.
Kast was welcomed at Silvio Pettirossi International Airport by Paraguay’s Vice Minister for Economic Relations and Integration, Patricia Frutos. Noboa arrived shortly afterward, bringing the number of regional leaders already in Paraguay to four, alongside Uruguayan President Yamandú Orsi and Bolivian President Rodrigo Paz. Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva is expected to arrive on Tuesday.
Ahead of the summit, Brazilian Foreign Minister Mauro Vieira criticized unilateral measures adopted by some members of the bloc, referring specifically to Argentina’s agreement with the United States as one of the issues generating tensions before the meeting.
Mercosur
y Japón
inician negociaciones para Alianza Económica
El presidente Lula da Silva
anunció el acuerdo que se oficializará en la cumbre de Mercosur en Paraguay.
¿Consideras que esta alianza impulsará el comercio global? https://t.co/OMpedzc9Ig… pic.twitter.com/AiU6GEFOFo
— teleSUR TV (@teleSURtv) June 16, 2026
Text Reads: Mercosur and Japan begin negotiations for Economic Alliance President Lula da Silva announced the agreement that will be formalized at the Mercosur summit in Paraguay. Do you think this alliance will boost global trade?
“Initiatives involving further breaches of the common external tariff, which is already being applied less and less, tend to weaken the integrity of the customs union and could lead to a review of the integration process.”
In addition to participating in the summit, Kast will carry out an official state visit to Asunción. His agenda includes expanded sessions on regional integration, the signing of agreements, a visit to Paraguay’s Congress, and bilateral meetings with several heads of state, including Noboa, before traveling to Uruguay for talks with Orsi.
The meeting brings together Mercosur’s full members—Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay—along with associate countries Chile, Ecuador, Panama, Colombia, Guyana and Suriname.
The bloc’s economic and political roadmap is expected to be at the center of discussions. On Monday, the Common Market Council debated the presentation of Mercosur’s agreement with Japan announced by President Lula, as well as plans to expand ties with Asia by deepening the existing agreement with India and advancing formal negotiations with Vietnam.
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