In the framework of the 26th ALBA-TCP Political Council in New York, Chancellor Yván Gil highlighted a strategic necessity for the region. He emphasized that the unity of Latin America and the Caribbean is essential to defend the continental territory against threats from foreign powers.
The Venezuelan diplomat was slashing in stating that this unity is not a simple romantic aspiration. On the contrary, he defined it as «a strategic necessity» and «the path to defend our territory.» In the face of geopolitical storms, the region must choose between navigating them in a fragmented manner or doing so as a united bloc.
As a central axis of this defense, the Chancellor proposed to elevate the proclamation of Latin America as a Zone of Peace. This guiding principle, adopted by CELAC in 2014, is presented as a key political tool to safeguard the self-determination of the peoples of Latin America and the Caribbean.
From this perspective, Gil demanded respect for the principle of non-interference in the internal affairs of other states. He flatly rejected any mechanism of external pressure or coercion aimed at forcing regime change or altering the constitutional order in the countries of the region.
The senior official reaffirmed that the defense of this Zone of Peace is equivalent to the defense of self-determination. He sees it as a shield against interference and a guarantee of the internal stability of nations, advocating for a world free of these threats.
The message from ALBA-TCP is clear: regional unity is the indispensable instrument for protecting sovereignty. Faced with a complex global scenario, integration is emerging not as an option, but as an obligation to defend independence and the right to choose one’s own destiny.