Lula (Center Right) and the newly appointed president of Uruguay, Yamandu Orsi (left), and the presidents of Colombia, Gustavo Petro (Center Left), and Chile, Gabriel Boric (Right). Photo: Alex Ibanez/AFP.
By Jamil Chad – Mar 5, 2025
Brazil, allied with progressive governments in the region, has managed to prevent the Organization of American States (OAS) from being led by an ally of the governments of Javier Milei and Donald Trump.
Brazilian diplomacy has forged an alliance with Chile, Colombia, Uruguay and Bolivia over the weekend and announced its support for Suriname’s candidate, Foreign Minister Albert Ramdin, to occupy the post of secretary general of the organization. The election takes place on March 10.
The Brazilian offensive paved the way for the diplomat to also receive support from Mexico, Canada, Ecuador and other countries. Together with the votes from the Caribbean, which had already been obtained, his slate was practically unbeatable. His advisors believe that he already has 28 endorsements.
As a result, on Wednesday evening, the candidate who had been courting the White House, Paraguayan Foreign Minister Rubén Ramírez Lezcano, withdrew from the race. He also had the support of Argentina, as well as El Salvador.
The conclusion is that, even with possible support from Washington and Javier Milei’s government, he would not have enough votes to be elected.
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OAS: strategic for Trump’s ambitions
At the end of 2024, Trump received the foreign minister of Paraguay at his residence in Mar a Lago (Florida). Officially, the meeting took place so that the two could discuss the political situation in Latin America and specific contexts such as Cuba, Nicaragua and Venezuela. But the trip had another purpose: to try to strengthen the Paraguayan’s campaign to succeed Luis Almagro at the head of the OAS.
Trump has not yet openly declared who he will vote for but Ramírez Lezcano was also with billionaire Elon Musk, a figure who has been gaining ground in the decision making of the Trump administration including US foreign policy.
To attract the US vote, Paraguay has moved closer to the American vote on other issues at the UN, as well as adopting a discourse similar to the White House’s position. This includes criticism of China’s offensive in the region, protection of Taiwan’s interests, warnings about Iran and even irregular immigration.
The Paraguayan’s position pleased Marco Rubio, Trump’s chief diplomat, who is the grandson of Cuban exiles and who, over the years, has adopted a harsh tone against progressive Latin American governments, especially Venezuela and Cuba.
Announcing the end of his foreign minister’s candidacy, Paraguay’s president, Santiago Peña, launched a veiled criticism of Brazil.
“The candidacy was very well received and supported by many member states of the organization. However, in recent days and in an abrupt and inexplicable way, Paraguay has been informed by friendly countries in the region, with which we share a common space and history, that they have modified their initial commitment to our country and have decided not to support Paraguay’s bid,” said the president.
“Paraguay, throughout its rich history, has been a country that has always based its positions on such high principles and values, and will not renounce them because of a particular election or situation,” he said.
“Having analyzed all these elements, I have made the decision to withdraw the candidacy of Foreign Minister Rubén Ramírez Lezcano, a diplomat of vast experience and well-deserved prestige, not only regionally, but worldwide, for the OAS General Secretariat,” added Peña.
If the OAS is viewed with suspicion by an important wing in Latin America and is not the key to Brazil’s regional integration strategy, the White House’s vision is to use the Washington-based organization to serve its interests in the hemisphere. 60% of the OAS budget comes from American contributions, and Trump’s advisors explained to UOL that they want to ensure that these resources fulfill the mission of strengthening their position in the region.
