Caputo says political affinity could facilitate cooperation with Brazil

Argentina’s Economy Minister, Luis Caputo, said the relationship between Argentina and Brazil would remain in place regardless of the election outcome in the neighboring country, although he considered that a potential victory for Flávio Bolsonaro in the runoff could add political affinity between the two governments and facilitate cooperation.

In an interview with the streaming program La Misa, Caputo said there is a “historic institutional and trade” bilateral relationship that does not depend on who is in government. He added that political closeness could improve dialogue and the conditions for working together.

A political difference, not a guaranteed change in the relationship

The minister’s statements present political affinity as a potential facilitator, not as a guarantee of specific agreements. Caputo did not detail any bilateral initiatives that would change if Bolsonaro won, nor did he specify which areas could benefit from closer cooperation.

The official also rejected the idea that a potential political change in Brazil would mean a loss of regional prominence for Argentina. On that point, he attributed influence over the political transformations that, in his assessment, Latin America is undergoing to President Javier Milei. This is Caputo’s interpretation, not an independent conclusion about the regional balance.

The interview also included the minister’s comments on Argentina’s economic activity. Caputo acknowledged that it is growing at a slower pace than before and argued that the trend-cycle measure better reflects underlying developments than seasonally adjusted monthly data. That assessment and his expectations for a recovery are part of his analysis; they do not change the conditional nature of his statements about ties with Brazil.