Years ago, during my time at the Foreign Ministry, I confirmed that the importance of referring things with precise words, or of transmitting a thought with the appropriate vocabulary, reaches superlative limits in the field of diplomacy and international relations.
Because an incorrect term, an erroneous phrase, an extemporaneous or incomprehensible speech, even an excessive gesture, usually cause damage that is difficult to repair in areas where most of the time there is interaction with cultures, ways of seeing problems, professional training and trajectories. different historicals.
Since the consequences of these actions may cause, for example, intergovernmental meetings to be postponed and the signing of agreements, declarations and memoranda that contain points of considerable interest to our country to be postponed.
Or, that the exports of Argentine companies become difficult due to taxes and tariff and para-tariff barriers, such as sanitary and phytosanitary certificates, which the government that considers itself aggrieved decides to maintain or establish at its ports of entry.
A major issue that the World Trade Organization, the competent international organization, takes a long time to solve.
That is to say, the statements and performance of officials in the international sphere are almost never neutral.
On the contrary, they constitute tools capable of obstructing or facilitating harmonious foreign relations and the achievement of important economic objectives for private activity and employment such as external sales of goods and services.
Especially when the construction of world peace, productive globalization, the power of superpowers, the great treaties and free trade zones that were consolidated in recent times seem to move towards new scenarios.
In this complex situation, the executive branch, taking into account that our country has regional relevance and, at the same time, little international influence, would have to establish the goals of foreign policy in accordance with the principles and the best experiences that were collected in these forty years of democracy.
Namely: develop continuous work to expand and diversify markets and promote the confidence of numerous governments and investors.
In addition to fighting for peaceful relations, multilateralism, respect for UN resolutions, integration processes, nuclear disarmament, non-participation in distant conflicts and, of course, the Malvinas cause.
For these reasons, what happened last month at the Davos forum, for example, is almost incomprehensible.
Since in a meeting sponsored by leaders and billionaires who set the problems of climate change as an agenda item, or publicly promote the values of feminism and the payment of higher taxes to mitigate inequality, such as Valerie Rockefeller and Bill Gates among others, at It occurs to the first president to argue without rhyme or reason against these positions.
In an intervention that was not categorical but parodic due to the rudimentary knowledge exhibited about the philosophy, economics and ideology of the parties that to a greater or lesser extent founded the modern world.
Because any idiot, Discépolo would say, knows that the Berlin Wall fell in 1989 and that being a fascist is not the same as being a Christian democrat, socialist, liberal or good conservative.
Also inexplicable are the jargon and the irreverent attitude that the new officials have used in these months of management with the large commercial partners, who have sometimes been firm political allies under the particular skies of South America, and with the agreements that have been signed on different occasions. signed with them.
In this sense, it is surprising that the central administration, so populated by economists, does not take into account that Argentina represents only 0.25% of global exchange and that above all it exports commodities.
That is, raw materials or basic products with a low level of processing that can be offered by other suppliers.
And, therefore, do not apply a simple cost-benefit analysis that demonstrates the need to strengthen and not weaken ties with the leaders of these four nations whose purchases represent, according to the National Institute of Statistics and Censuses, close to 34% of our foreign trade.
Brazil, the leading importer of Argentine goods in recent years, for an average amount of twelve billion dollars annually, including cargo vehicles, automobiles, wheat and corn.
China, the second, which has reached seven billion in operations basically composed of soybeans, frozen meat, sorghum, soybean oil and barley.
Chile, fourth after the US, with average imports of four billion of corn, wheat, soybeans, soybean oil, natural gas and beef, among other products.
And Colombia, further back in the ranking, with a little more than a billion purchases made up of corn, trucks, cars, medicines and soy flour.
Miguel de Cervantes, with the charm of his pen, advised five centuries ago that whoever you have to punish with deeds, do not treat badly with words.
It would be good then for high authorities to soon find the words and a tone conducive to relating to society and the rest of the world in an assertive way.