Cultivating Partnerships with the Americas: WCO Insights from the Munich Leaders Meeting

22 November 2024

On the sidelines of the G20 Leaders Summit, Ian Saunders, the Secretary General of the World Customs Organization (WCO), participated in the Munich Leaders Meeting (MLM) held by the Munich Security Conference (MSC) in Rio de Janeiro from 20 to 21 November, 2024. This exclusive event brought together around 80 senior decision-makers and experts to engage in crucial discussions about foreign and security policy.

This MLM gained significant attention not only for its timing during the G20, hosted by the Brazilian government, but also as the first regional meeting to focus specifically on Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC). With Brazil preparing to host the 30th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP30) next year and assuming the presidency of BRICS — an informal partnership of five major emerging economies (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa) - the country is positioning itself as a vital forum for addressing pressing regional and global challenges, from climate change to trade and security.

During the MLM, Secretary General Saunders engaged in pivotal discussions aimed at advocating on behalf of the global Customs community as regards developing common and adequate policies to combat transnational organized crime by mobilizing a whole-of-government approach, finding better ways to address maritime security challenges in the South Atlantic and promoting economic cooperation and trade. Engaging with high-ranking officials, including heads of international organizations, prime ministers, and ministers of security and defence from the LAC region, Secretary General Saunders conveyed the message regarding the versatility of Customs capabilities in trade and security domains that are largely untapped, yet can provide some answers to the complex challenges the world is facing today.

A recurring theme at the MLM centered on the idea that, despite the multitude of challenges that generate friction in the increasingly multipolar world, opportunities for cooperation still exist. These ‘habitats of cooperation’, i.e. technical areas, will remain the safe havens for the international cooperation in the foreseeable future. Overall, the MLM provided an essential platform for fostering dialogue and promoting cooperative solutions to pressing issues faced by the LAC region and beyond.

Photos