ALBA-TCP member countries commit to strengthen regional integration efforts

During the XX summit of the ALBA-TCP, leaders of the member countries reiterated their confidence in the regional integration organization, and ratified their commitment to continue strengthening cooperation, solidarity, independence and sovereignty of the Latin American and the Caribbean region

December 15, 2021 by Peoples Dispatch
The heads of state and ministers of the member countries of the ALBA-TCP in Havana, Cuba, for the XX summit. Photo: ALBA-TCP

The XX summit of the Bolivarian Alliance for the Peoples of Our America – People’s Trade Treaty (ALBA-TCP) was held in Havana, Cuba, on December 14, with the participation of the heads of state and ministers of the member countries. During the summit, the leaders of the member countries reiterated their confidence in the regional integration organization, and ratified their commitment to continue strengthening cooperation, solidarity, independence and sovereignty of the Latin American and the Caribbean region.

During the summit, the representatives of the member nations signed a joint economic, political and social post-pandemic work agenda for 2020, presented by ALBA-TCP Secretary General, Sacha Llorenti. He pointed out that the post-pandemic plan includes different strategic decisions in several areas. To promote economic and social development, the bloc will reactivate several of its projects such as ALBA Agriculture, ALBA Fishing, ALBA Food programs, ALBA Health, ALBA Cultural; strengthen Intra-ALBA transportation. Venezuela will relaunch its PetroCaribe program to foster regional energy sovereignty by delivering fuel to member countries through long-term payment plans or bartering of goods and services. To promote sovereignty, and defend against the interference of the United States, the bloc vowed to strengthen international presence in defense of the principles of the United Nations Charter, against blockades and the legal interference in politics.

Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, during his speech, said that the ALBA-TCP “has had a great capacity for innovation and creation, to overcome different situations and generate and impact the lives of nations with actions.” In this regard, he highlighted the collective efforts made in health, education and energy sectors. “Only together will the dream of development, stability and true and growing well-being of our peoples be possible,” he emphasized.

At the closing of the summit, Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel said that the ALBA-TCP was “an authentic moral fortress that honors the region.” He highlighted the relevance of the mechanism in the almost two years of the pandemic. “Cooperation was felt with an emphasis in solidarity, the alliance demonstrated that supporting each other is necessary and possible,” he said.

The summit coincided with the 17th anniversary of the organization. ALBA-TCP was founded in 2004 as a result of the strategic vision of Commanders Fidel Castro and Hugo Chávez. It is a platform for social, political and economic integration of Latin American and Caribbean nations “in defense of independence, self-determination and the identity of peoples comprising it”. It was created to serve as the counterpart of the Free Trade Area of ​​the Americas (FTAA), promoted by the United States to impose its economic domination in the region. The organization is made up of Antigua and Barbuda, Bolivia, Cuba, Dominica, Granada, Nicaragua, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, and Venezuela.

On the occasion, the representatives of the member countries vowed to continue the legacy of the heroes of Latin American and Caribbean independence, and renewed their commitment to strengthening this mechanism of political agreement, based on the principles of solidarity, social justice, cooperation, and economic partnerships.