Tegucigalpa, April 10
Colombian President Gustavo Petro called on Latin America and the Caribbean to act as a "guiding light" for multilateralism in a world increasingly troubled by division and unilateralism.
Petro on Wednesday appealed at the 9th Summit of Heads of State and Government of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) held in Tegucigalpa, the capital of Honduras.
"We must decide whether we help each other or retreat into loneliness," Petro said. "We can either face the world alone, as in One Hundred Years of Solitude, or we can act as a united humanity and support one another."
The summit was attended by over a dozen heads of state and delegations from the bloc's 33 member countries. Honduras formally handed over CELAC's rotating presidency to Colombia, reports Xinhua news agency.
Additionally, Honduran President Xiomara Castro urged greater unity among Latin American and Caribbean countries to better respond to the United States' "exclusionary economic reorganisation" of the world.
Speaking at the opening of the 9th Summit of Heads of State and Government of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC), Castro said regional integration is now "more urgent than ever."
"We cannot continue walking separately when the world is reorganising itself without us," said Castro, warning that "the old neoliberal order is collapsing, and major powers like the United States are redrawing their economic map without considering those being left behind."
Castro urged CELAC members to unite in confronting shared regional challenges such as new US tariffs and migration policies.
More than a dozen regional leaders and representatives from CELAC's 33 member states attended the summit, where Honduras formally handed over the bloc's rotating presidency to Colombia.
Leaders are expected to adopt the Tegucigalpa Declaration, a roadmap for deeper political and economic integration across the region.
— IANS
Reader Comments
While I appreciate the sentiment, I wish they'd focus more on concrete economic plans rather than just rhetoric. What specific trade agreements are being proposed? How will this help the average worker?
This gives me hope! 🇨🇴ðŸ‡ðŸ‡³ We're stronger together. The US can't keep treating Latin America like its backyard. Time for real sovereignty!
Interesting timing with the US elections coming up. I wonder if this unity push will actually lead to policy changes or if it's just political theater. The Tegucigalpa Declaration better have teeth.
As someone who remembers the old CELAC meetings that went nowhere, I'll believe it when I see results. But the literary reference was a nice touch - at least they're trying to connect with our culture this time.
M MarÃa R. Finally some leadership that understands our region's potential! Unity is the only way forward against global powers trying to divide us. Petro's reference to GarcÃa Márquez was brilliant 👠S SofÃa L. President Castro is absolutely right about the urgency. Climate change doesn't care about borders - we need regional cooperation now more than ever. Hope they include environmental protections in the declaration. We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.