Scholz downplays differences on Ukraine on the South American tour

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz appealed for support for Ukraine on his first South American tour, despite differences with his hosts.

Argentine President Alberto Fernández said the region does not plan to supply arms.

During his three-day trip, Scholz sought to emphasize unity, pointing out that all three countries he visited – Argentina, Chile, and Brazil – condemned the Russian invasion at last year’s United Nations General Assembly.

However, the consequences of the war and Western sanctions against Russia, such as rising food and energy prices, have hit the region particularly hard and raised questions about the West’s actions.

Fernández told a joint press conference with Scholz in Buenos Aires on Saturday (28) that Argentina, like Germany, wanted to help restore peace as quickly as possible.

However, he responded with a clear no when asked if Argentina would send weapons to Ukraine to repel Russian troops, as Germany and its Western allies have done.

“Argentina and Latin America have no plans to send weapons to Ukraine or any other conflict zone,” he stressed.

Chilean President Gabriel Boric did not address the war in his opening remarks at a press conference with Scholz in Santiago de Chile on Sunday but focused on economic cooperation, particularly in the extractive sector.

In both countries, Scholz visited memorials to victims of military dictatorships, underscoring the need to fight for democracy and freedom.

“At this memorial to the many victims of dictatorship here, I can’t help but think of the young people who are being killed in Iran for fighting for freedom and a better life,” he said in Buenos Aires.

German government officials said it is understandable that Latin American countries, so far from Europe and with such different concerns, have different views on the war. However, they stressed the importance of continuing to convey Berlin’s perspective.

Scholz will travel to Brazil on Monday, where he will be the first Western head of state to meet President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva since taking office.

The Europeans seek to reset relations with South America’s largest country following the departure of divisive far-right former president Jair Messias Bolsonaro.

Given the storming of government buildings by Bolsonaro supporters earlier this month, democracy resilience is likely to be high on the talks’ agenda.

Still, differences are again expected.

Last year, Lula da Silva said Russia should never have invaded Ukraine but added that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky was as much to blame for the war as Russian leader Vladimir Putin.