Fact Check: "Mercosur includes Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay, and Bolivia."
What We Know
Mercosur, or the Southern Common Market, is a regional trade bloc in South America. It was established in 1991 by the Treaty of Asunción. The founding members of Mercosur are Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, and Uruguay. Bolivia is in the process of becoming a full member, having signed the Accession Protocol in 2012, but as of now, it is still considered an acceding member state and not yet a full member of Mercosur. Therefore, the claim that "Mercosur includes Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay, and Bolivia" is partially correct, as Bolivia is not yet a full member.
Analysis
The claim states that Mercosur includes Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay, and Bolivia. While it accurately lists the four founding members—Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay, and Paraguay—it misrepresents Bolivia's status. Bolivia's membership is pending full ratification by the existing member states, which has not yet been completed. According to the Mercosur website, Bolivia's membership process has faced delays, and it has not yet been fully integrated into the bloc.
The sources used to verify this information are credible, including official government and international organization websites that provide up-to-date information on Mercosur's membership status. However, the claim does not clarify that Bolivia's membership is still in process, which could lead to misunderstandings about the current composition of Mercosur.
Conclusion
Verdict: Unverified
The claim that "Mercosur includes Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay, and Bolivia" is misleading. While it correctly identifies the four founding members, it inaccurately implies that Bolivia is a full member when it is still in the process of joining. Therefore, the claim cannot be fully verified as accurate.
