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South America and South Atlantic Islands
Uruguay |
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Last reviewed: 20 January 2009 |
Country information
INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
Uruaguay's Relations with Neighbours
Uruguay is a founder member of Mercosur, the Southern Cone Common Market, along with Paraguay, Brazil and Argentina. Mercosur, founded in 1991, is intended to promote increased trade among its members and the outside world. Montevideo is the site of the Administrative Secretariat. Although Uruguay invested great hopes in Mercosur in the early 1990s these have not been fulfilled and the government continues to seek to diversify Uruguay's markets outside Mercosur.Following much discussion the Uruguayan Government has decided not to negotiate a Free Trade Agreement with the US for the time being, but a Trade and Investment Framework Agreement was negotiated instead.
Uruguay is also a member of the recently created Union of South American Nations (UNASUR), an intergovernmental union integrating Mercosur and the Andean Community, as part of a continuing process of South American integration. Still in its infancy, UNASUR has suffered various teething problems, including lack of agreement over the appointment of Secretary General (Uruguay vetoed Nestor Kirchner’s candidacy as a protest over Argentine actions in the bilateral paper-mill dispute).
Uruguay's Relations with the International Community
Uruguay is an active player in the United Nations and is a significant contributor to UN Peacekeeping operations. Current deployments include the Democratic Republic of Congo and Haiti: a third of Uruguay's Army staff is currently involved in peacekeeping activities. As a member of the Cairns Group, Uruguay is very active in promoting the liberalisation of international trade, especially agriculture, and is critical of the EU's common agricultural policy.
Uruguay's Relations with the UK
We enjoy good bilateral relations with Uruguay and see eye-to-eye on a range of international issues. The UK played a significant part in Uruguay's history in the period immediately before and after independence (1825), being heavily involved in the railways and public utilities. These and many other British assets were transferred to the Uruguayan government after World War Two, mostly in payment of debts incurred with Uruguay for food shipments during that war. The UK no longer has the predominant role in Uruguay that it once held. However, because of our long and close involvement with the creation and growth of their country Uruguayans view us with some affection and we work well with Uruguay on many international issues (including peacekeeping).
Military Relations
In recent years the UK has operated a varied programme of military training with Uruguay, sending students to British organised courses in the UK and around the world. These have included the MOD funded 'Managing Defence in the Wider Security Context' course, a Military Observers course (Kenya 2006), and peacekeeping training. Uruguayan Chiefs of Staff are regular visitors to the UK. In December 2008 Phil Jones (Deputy Director, Directorate for Policy and Defence Relations (South), MOD) visited Uruguay to discuss defence reform, peacekeeping and reinforce the bilateral relationship – meetings included the Minister of Defence and the Chiefs of Staff. In 2009, various defence exchanges are planned, including at Chief of Staff level.
Cultural Relations with the UK
Due to our close historical links, the UK also has strong cultural links with Uruguay and there have been numerous visits by orchestras and soloists, playing classical, jazz and popular music. Local dramatists often use British theatre, playwrights and directors as a point of reference. In 2006, 2007 and 2008, the Embassy supported a number of cultural activities, including performances by the Manchester Hallé Orchestra, the BBC Symphony Orchestra and the Soloists of the London Philarmonia and various theatre plays, concerts and arts exhibitions on the UK. The English language is widely taught in schools and institutes throughout the country and there is a healthy interest in British affairs. There are also good sporting links with Uruguay. We have a small, though successful Chevening programme with Uruguay. The Embassy organised a series of events in 2006 and 2007 to commemorate the bi-centenary of the British presence in the country. Activities included Public Diplomacy work to showcase the excellence of UK media, the sports tradition, Corporate Social Responsibility and the creative industries.
Recent Inward Visits
2008Minister for Housing and Environment Carlos Colacce visited the UK privately in August. The FCO organised a one day official programme for him including a visit to carbon neutral urbanisation BedZed.
Minister for Industry, Energy and Mining Daniel Martínez: 1 to 3 October 2008, a visit including calls on Ministers, industry and a talk at Canning House.
2006
Deputy Foreign Minister Prof Belela Herrera attended a Wilton Park Conference on "Political Change in Latin America: implications for the region, US, EU and Asia-Pacific": 15-17 June.
Minister of Economy and Finance Cr Danilo Astori: 19-25 March.
2004 and 2005
President of Central Bank, Walter Cancela: 11-15 October 2005
Frente Amplio Senator Margarita Percovich: 27 June-1 July 2005
Senator (and leader of opposition Blanco Party) Jorge Larrañaga, President of the Blanco Board: 14-19 March 2005
Recent Outward Visits
Dr Kim Howells MP, Minister of State, FCO visited Uruguay on 12-13 March 2008. He met the Vice-President Rodolfo Nin Novoa, the PUS equivalent at the Foreign Ministry, the Defence Minister and MPs of the International Affairs Committees.
A British delegation of the Inter Parliamentary Union: 20–23 November 2005. Engagements included meetings with Vice President Rodolfo Nin Novoa, Defence Minister José Bayardi and then Foreign Minister Reinaldo Gargano
HRH Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex: February-March 2005. During his three–day visit for the Presidential inauguration HRH met former President Batlle and the current President Tabaré Vázquez, as well as senior government officials of the outgoing and the incoming government
Bill Rammell, former FCO Minister for Latin America: February 2004