Paraguay divides Brazil and the US over hegemony in Latin America.

247 Now, with the Paraguayan issue taking center stage on the agenda of the Organization of American States (OAS), it becomes even clearer why Brazil has taken such an uncompromising stance regarding the condemnation of the impeachment process against Paraguayan President Fernando Lugo. One of the main reasons is that the United States is on the other side, supporting the rise to power of current President Federico Branco. With interests that include the installation of a military base in the neighboring country, the Americans have already shown that they will mobilize all their votes in the OAS, where they hold strong influence over the central and Caribbean countries, for the approval of the political change.

Keeping an eye on this movement, led by Foreign Minister Antonio Patriota, Brazil is trying to garner votes even among small countries, such as Saint Lucia, a discreet island in the Caribbean Sea. This Thursday, the 12th, in Brasília, Patriota took advantage of Foreign Minister Alva Baptiste's visit to send messages to the OAS, asking the organization to align itself with the vetoes adopted by Mercosur and Unasur, organizations in which Brazil is the strongest voice.

The United States, however, knows exactly what it wants. In response to the Brazilian Foreign Minister's criticism of the OAS Secretary General José Miguel Insulza's position that the Paraguayan power shift complied with the country's democratic rules – he was not speaking on behalf of the Organization, Patriota said – the Assistant Secretary of State for Latin America, Roberta Jacobson, countered that, on the contrary, Insulza does have the Organization's backing to speak. This power struggle will undoubtedly continue, even after the OAS votes on a resolution regarding the matter.

Below is a news article from Agência Brasil about the Brazil-United States dispute over the Paraguayan issue:

Mariana Branco _Agência Brasil, Brasília - The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Antonio Patriota, said he expects the Organization of American States (OAS) to take into account the stance adopted by the Union of South American Nations (Unasur) and the Southern Common Market (Mercosur) when it officially positions itself on the current situation in Paraguay.

The two international blocs suspended Paraguay from their membership until new elections are called, disagreeing with how the impeachment process of former President Fernando Lugo was conducted. According to Antonio Patriota, there is no date scheduled for a meeting where the OAS will decide on the matter.

Patriota made the statement at a press conference after meeting with the Foreign Minister of the Caribbean island of Saint Lucia, Alva Baptiste. "Mercosur and Unasur have taken an important stance. We hope that the broader bodies will take into account what these subgroups have decided," the minister stated.

Earlier this week, the organization’s Secretary-General, José Miguel Insulza, suggested that an action plan be drawn up to facilitate dialogue between American countries and that Paraguay should not be suspended. However, Patriota said yesterday (11) that Insulza’s statements do not constitute the official position of the Organization of American States.

Antonio Patriota also commented on the statements made by the US Assistant Secretary of State for Latin America, Roberta Jacobson, who praised the stance of the OAS Secretary General and advocated for balance and dialogue in relations with Paraguay. "In my conversation with Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, there was an expression of serious concern regarding respect for the right to a full defense in the process [against Fernando Lugo]," he said.

Foreign Minister Alva Baptiste also commented on Paraguay. "I want to make it clear that Saint Lucia believes in democracy. Saint Lucia does not support and will not support anything that jeopardizes the values ​​we embrace. Every effort will be made to ensure that the hemisphere continues on this path [of democracy]," he declared.