Kaveshnikov: the EU has no serious influence on Latin America

The European Union may affect Latin American countries to restrict exports of agricultural products to the Russian Federation, However, most likely, the EU will not go further public statements polled Last news assistants.

first Tuesday of the British journal referring to sources in the European Union informed that Brussels wants to hold dialogues with Brazil, Chile And a number of other Latin American countries And to persuade them to put into the Russian Federation of food products instead of prohibited European. It is noted that these dialogues are " political ", And discussed them are not real legal complaints on food exports to the Russian Federation, and " the definition of a single international perspective on the situation in Ukraine ", writes the print edition.

" The fact that the EU will make such efforts And conduct discussions with the countries of Latin America Is quite predictable And expected ", - stressed head of the Centre for political integration of the Institute of Europe RAS Nikolai Kaveshnikov.

according to him, " the success of these efforts the European Commission it is difficult to predict ". And not only because " the EU has no serious instruments of influence on the countries of Latin America." In many of these countries today have power left And, in this or another extent, anti-American regimes, plus a purely commercial desire of Latin American organizations - all this complex of factors will work on the Fact that food Latin America, most likely, will come to the Russian market, replacing certain positions of European exports, " says the specialist.

However, he does not consider possible scenario, when EU countries, for example, will block the insurance freight Latin American ships carrying food to the Russian Federation." Such methods were used extremely rarely. For example, when adopted punishment for Iran, one of the elements of these punishments was the refusal of the European organizations to insure transportation to Iran. However, it seems absolutely incredible that tool of pressure. This can only be done through formal political decisions, Respectively documented that in this situation, most likely, will not be accepted ", - considers Kaveshnikov.

Chief editor of the journal Russia in global politics ", head of the Presidium of the Council on foreign And defense policy Fyodor Lukyanov suggests that European countries have the opportunity to exert Pressure on the countries of Latin America, most importantly, " by regulating access to its own private market ". According to him, the EU is " very serious market segment for Latin American countries." If under any pretext limited imports of the same food, the individual items in the European Union, It will be a very serious blow ", - believes the expert.

Pressure, according to Lukyanov, can appear not only on the agricultural sector of Latin America, but also in the machinery industry." Brazil builds its Embraer, very good, are in great demand, but naturally, they compete with others, and among them the European And American. Accordingly, it also has methods to somehow influence ", - explained the expert.

at the same time Lukyanov not expect from the EU overt threats against such major countries of the region, such as Brazil. In his vision, " to spoil relations with her because of this is not far-sighted ". Negative scenario is only possible If the European Union is " so much was angry at Moscow that will try by all means to hurt Russia." In General, Lukyanov am sure that Brazil " is quite able to resist the pressure."


sections: Politics