BUENOS AIRES, Argentina.- More than two centuries after the first independence processes began in our region, the establishment of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) in December 2011 was a milestone. It was no coincidence, our peoples had to suffer, learn and struggle a lot to achieve the rebirth that this memorable event brought.
The rise of left-wing governments, which took place in several Latin American and Caribbean countries in the early years of this century, was an essential element to push the final concretization of this integrationist body, whose foundations were formally laid at the I Latin Summit America and Conference on Integration and Development (CALC) held in December 2008 in Salvador de Bahía, Brazil.
For the first time in history, the region had proposed uniting the 33 nations of Our Americas in an integration mechanism, without extra-regional presence or imperialist interests. History has shown many times that together we are better prepared to overcome our differences and to unite common interests without in any way affecting the identity of our peoples.
The lesson was learned back then: in the diversity that characterizes us, there is also a lovable wealth.
SOUTH OF THE RIO BRAVO
South of the Río Bravo, the cities experienced a new awakening. To honor the agreements of the 2008 Summit, the II CALC, known as the Unity Summit, was held in February 2010 in the Riviera Maya, Quintana Roo, Mexico. There it was decided to create a regional organization that would bring together the Rio Group and CALC, in which the 33 nations of our America would be united.
The great challenge was to ensure that this organization would be able to consolidate and project on a global scale a well-founded Latin American and Caribbean identity, capable of becoming the “voice” of the region in the most diverse scenarios.
Three great Quixotes: Fidel, Chávez and Lula were the main promoters of this transcendental dream that would become a reality in December 2011, when Venezuela hosted the founding summit of CELAC. It would be there if, in a historical and contemporary discourse, Raúl defined this organization as “our most precious work”, whose purpose is to consolidate a united and sovereign region committed to a common destiny.
Strategically, the army general said at the time, it will give us the political tool needed to unite wills, respect diversity, resolve differences, work together for the good of our peoples and show solidarity with one another.”
This has been the focus of CELAC’s main actions in the 11 years of its founding, during which six summits of heads of state and government have been held: I. Summit, Chile, January 2013; II Summit, Havana, January 2014; III. Summit, Costa Rica, January 2015; IV Summit, Ecuador, January 2016; V Summit, Dominican Republic, January 2017; and VI Summit, Mexico, September 2021.
Of particular importance for the region was the II Summit, which was held in Havana after the end of Cuba’s pro tempore presidency in the regional organization. The work done during his presidency year allowed Cuba to consolidate its role at the regional and international levels and marked some milestones for the consolidation of CELAC and the rapprochement of its member countries.
This was a time when greater participation by the Caribbean countries in community initiatives was achieved; 30 documents were approved: Havana Political Declaration, Havana Action Plan and 28 special declarations on different subjects; the China-CELAC Forum was established, the most active in recent years, benefiting member states; and the proclamation of Latin America and the Caribbean as a Zone of Peace was approved.
After various moments of change in our region, marked by internal conflicts in different countries, the increasingly frequent attempts by the United States government to expand its intervention policy and the complex scenario caused by the COVID-19 pandemic Actions taken by Mexico gave new impetus to the community during its pro tempore presidency.
Much of the success of the VI Summit and the revitalization of CELAC – not just in projects but also in deeds – is due to the drive of Mexico’s President Andrés Manuel López Obrador as the truly right body.
The Argentine presidency in 2022 has given continuity to this revitalization of the organization, leaving a very positive record for the region, according to experts on the subject. In addition, due to the numerous meetings at various levels that took place during the reporting period, it was possible last year to resume interventions at the United Nations on issues such as nuclear disarmament, decolonization and the blockade against Cuba.
As the culmination of a tiring period of work, the VII CELAC Summit will take place on January 24 in Argentina, another historic moment for our region, which will be marked by the return of Brazil to the community to which it has not belonged since 2020.
Achieving consensus has never been an easy task. Unity amid diversity, respect for what makes us different, is the supreme principle of the Latin American and Caribbean community. True regional integration, which allows us to keep our peoples from isolation and loss of their sovereignty, must always promote common interests despite differences, respect identities and give everyone space and voice.