중남미

This paper aims to analyse Brazil's energy security diplomacy pushed forward by Lula's government, in particular the implication of MERCOSUR-SICA FTA dialogue in the context of ethanol diplomacy. Since the launch of the Lula's administration in 2003, it has shown firm position on regional integration in Latin America using the MERCOSUR as central pivot. UNASUR was launched as a result of MERCOSUR-CAN FTA negotiation in South America. Brazil has been pushing ethanol cooperation through MERCOSUR-SICA FTA dialogue in Central America. Until recently, the common characteristic of economic integrations in Latin America was deep integration such as CARICOM in Caribbean region, SICA in Central America, CAN in the north of South America and MERCOSUR in the south of South America, making most of them customs union. However, entering into 21 century, most of these countries have been pursuing shallow integration of FTAs among the existing economic blocs. Pragmatic integration has been substituting ideological integration reflecting the consequences of globalization. UNASUR is a striking example of pragmatic integration based on common democratic value and desire for common infrastructures in South America. The approximation of MERCOSUR-SICA is a another good example of progmatic economic integration enabled by the possibility of ethanol energy cooperation. Brazil has opened its ethanol diplomacy by celebrating the Memorandum of Understanding(MOU) with the United States em March of 2007. With ethanol cooperation both countries have opened new diplomatic relationship: the United States come to regard the Brazil as potential supplier of oil and bioenergy in Latin America, possibly reducing their dependency on Venezuelan oil. And, Brazil could establish ethanol production belt in the Caribbean and Central America through the cooperation with the United States. The MERCOSUR-SICA dialogue has started since October, 2004 and both blocs officially announced their contact to initiate FTA negotiation in May 25, 2007, following the announcement of ethanol diplomacy between the United States and Brazil in March of 2007. In fact, bio-energy cooperation became a new connecting element engaging MERCOSUR-SICA. For this reason, MERCOSUR-SICA FTA negotiation is a part of strategic dialogue to proliferate ethanol production belt. Caribbean and Central American countries which are not yet considered having any special economic attractiveness until recently, have in a sudden got attention of Brazil and MERCOSUR's countries. As long as the United States concede import tariff benefits to SICA countries, ethanol industry in this region will give special attraction to foreign investors, in particular, American and Brazilian companies. Consequently, MERCOSUR-SICA FTA negotiation will take a great importance in the context of the Brazil's energy diplomacy.