On March 28, 2016, the Valdai Discussion Club held a panel discussion in Montevideo, Uruguay, as part of the "Russia – Latin America" business, during which Russian experts presented a report on "War and peace in the twenty-first century" and discussed the prospects for relations between Russia and Latin America. The main themes of the event and the importance of bilateral cooperation were explained forum member, the Program Director of the Valdai club, Scientific Director of the European Institute of MGIMO, Professor, faculty of world economy and world politics HSE Oleg Barabanov.

       Trends toward a new bipolarity are being to occur in the world, and now, Latin American countries are choosing their own path. "This theme was the focus of a Valdai Club panel discussion and aroused great interest among Latin American participants," said Oleg Barabanov.

       On the one hand, he explained, Russian-Chinese cooperation is being developed and strengthened, but on the other, American projects such as the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), and Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) are being activated.

       "Latin America is at a crossroads. It is located between two somewhat competing projects of the future. Almost half of the countries of the region are in the orbit of the so-called ‘left turn’ and the reorientation of countries in the region from unilateral ties to the United States to expanding their cooperation with China, Russia, BRICS countries. But in other countries of the region, at least at the moment, you can see a denial of the ‘left turn.’ We see the return to power of the right-wingers in Argentina, the attempted impeachment of Brazil's President Dilma Rousseff," said Barabanov.

       However, you can only approximately predict what role Latin America will take in future global politics. It is much more important to establish cooperation on strategic issues now. According to Barabanov, the main purpose of the business forum was to promote economic and energy interests of Russia in Latin American countries. Increased dialogue between Russia and MERCOSUR was discussed as well. "There were many interesting projects discussed, as well as opportunities for interaction between the Eurasian Economic Union and MERCOSUR as two integration associations," Barabanov added.

       For the Valdai Discussion Club, the main outcome of the forum was increased interest of Latin American partners in the activities of the leading Russian think-tank. "The need for further organization of the Russian expert forums in Latin America was emphasized," Barabanov said.

       Views expressed are of individual Members and Contributors, rather than the Club's, unless explicitly stated otherwise.