The presidents of the nations making up the Andean Community – Colombia, Ecuador, Perú and Bolivia – said on Monday they would like Venezuela, Chile and Argentina to join the group as much of South América shifts left.
By Reuters – Marco Aquino
Aug 29, 2022
“If we manage to integrate Chile, Venezuela and Argentina…I think this would significantly change things and our voice would be heard much more clearly on the world stage,” Colombian President Gustavo Petro said.
The presidents were in Lima on Monday for a meeting as Ecuador passes on the bloc’s presidency to Peru.
Petro’s remarks are also his first on a foreign tour after taking over the presidency earlier this month.
The desire to expand the Andean Community comes as much of South America has shifted left. Since 2020, left-wing governments have taken over in Bolivia, Perú, Colombia and Chile. Ecuador, led by right-wing Guillermo Lasso, is now the outlier in the group.
Venezuela and Chile were once members, while Argentina has never joined.
Venezuela left in the early 2000s under the socialist presidency of Hugo Chávez, while Chile was a founding member but left in 1976 during the right-wing dictatorship of Augusto Pinochet.
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Read More: Reuters – Andean Community nations push for Venezuela, Chile, Argentina to join bloc
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