Chavez in Brazil to Officially Join Mercosur

For The Rio Times

President Hugo Chávez met with the leaders of Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay in Brasília Tuesday to formalize Venezuela’s entrance to Mercosur – six years after the oil-rich Caribbean nation’s first attempt to join the trade bloc. The decision to let in Venezuela was taken, controversially, without Paraguay’s approval during that country’s suspension for Former President Fernando Lugo’s impeachment.

Read more here.

Paraguay Out, Venezuela In: What Do Mercosur’s Changes Mean for Brazil?

For Americas Quarterly

Late last month, the Mercosur alliance met, suspended Paraguay and ushered in Venezuela as a full member in almost as little time as it took the Paraguayan congress to impeach their former president, Fernando Lugo, the preceding week.

What does this mean for Brazil?

Read more here.

Brazil and Paraguay: Powerful Neighbors, Complicated Relationships

For Americas Quarterly

Today’s Mercosur presidential meeting, in Mendoza, Argentina, is getting rather more international attention than it likely anticipated.  Previously expected to be little more than tussling over tariffs and a perfunctory discussion of fiscal woes in Europe, the focus now will be Fernando Lugo’s sudden removal from the Paraguayan presidency last Friday.

But what does this mean for Brazil? Read more here.