Club of ideological friends: What happened at the seventh CELAC Summit?
Last January 24, the seventh Summit of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) took place in the city of Buenos Aires, Argentina. Amid the political convulsion in the region due to ideological conflicts, the summit was attended by 33 leaders and representatives of Latin America, in addition to the United States and China as prominent fellow guests outside the region.
Brazil’s comeback under Lula
The summit’s host, president of Argentina, Alberto Fernández, led its inauguration by welcoming back Brazil following the reincorporation of the South American giant into the regional forum. Brazil was withdrawn from CELAC in 2020 by former president Jair Bolsonaro, citing “ideological and democratic” motives for his country’s abandonment of the forum. In addition, he highlighted the presence of non-democratic regimes such as Venezuela, Cuba, and Nicaragua as a main tenet for his decision. Now led by president Luiz Inácio Lula Da Silva, Brazil returns as one of the most influential countries in the forum, as the nation’s previous administrations effectively sought to enhance bridges between emerging and industrialised nations through the BRICS group (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa).
Calls for regional integration
Regional integration turned into the main focus of this year’s CELAC forum with the renewed presence of Brazil. However, the debate turned highly polarised in ideological terms among the participants.
At one point, tension rose as the discussion geared towards the Southern Common Market trade bloc (MERCOSUR). Uruguayan president Luis Lacalle Pou remained committed to signing a bilateral free trade agreement with China, a move that may be considered prohibited by MERCOSUR unless its four countries (Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay, and Uruguay) negotiate jointly. For Lula, this free-trade agreement would represent a major obstacle for his integration plans to succeed. Nonetheless, Lacalle Pou defended his bilateral negotiations with China by raising the need for Uruguay to “open up to the world” in staunch criticism for the protectionist policies pursued by his MERCOSUR counterparts.
Just a day before the summit, Brazil and Argentina announced an ambitious project that would create a single currency for both nations in order to pave the way for others to join the economic bloc. In response to the project –and in clear reference to failed and limited projects such as UNASUR and PROSUR– the Uruguayan leader took a clear stance against Lula by advocating for free-trade zones throughout Latin America instead of pursuing “ideologically driven” integration projects.
In defence of the proposed regional projects, Colombian president Gustavo Petro used his time to advocate for them as a means to counter climate change. Petro has remained committed to fighting against climate change since the start of his presidency by calling for integration as an opportunity to preserve the Amazon rainforest and generate clean energy. The end-goal for his strategy remains ambitious too, as Petro staunchly believes in the building of a common policy in order for the region to have a worldwide geopolitical presence.
Lacalle Pou’s further remarks
As Uruguayan president Luis Lacalle Pou arrived in Buenos Aires, his reported low expectations for the summit’s outcome seemed to be further exacerbated by admonishing remarks from Sergio Massa, Argentina’s economy minister. “I believe that Uruguay is one of the younger brothers of Mercosur, and Brazil and Argentina have the responsibility of taking care of it, like any younger brother”, Massa stated. In response to the minister when asked for a statement at the conclusion of the summit for the press, Lacalle Pou limited his response by stating: “(CELAC) looks like Disneyland”.
At the summit, Lacalle Pou questioned the “ideologisation” of CELAC by describing the forum as a “club of ideological friends”. “There are countries here that do not respect democracy, human rights or institutions, let us not have a hemiplegic vision according to ideological affinity”, he subsequently stated.
The host for 2024
The summit concluded with the election of Ralph Gonsalves, prime minister of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, as the next president pro tempore of CELAC. Gonsalves is considered a close ally of the Nicaraguan leader, Daniel Ortega, of which he refused to comment when questioned by the press for human rights violations in the Central American nation. The forum’s new leader avoided condemning Ortega by requesting respect towards each country’s situation. It is reported that in his own country, Gonsalves is referred as “comrade Ralph”; meanwhile in Cuba he is known as “mini Castro”.
With Alberto Fernández of Argentina relieved from his role at CELAC, destiny points towards a relaunch of the Union of South American Nations (UNASUR) with the help of Brazil’s Lula.
Notable absences
Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro decided not to attend the summit in a last minute cancellation as calls for his international arrest were voiced by opposition leaders in Argentina. At the moment, the United States government had a warrant for Maduro’s arrest for $15 million on charges relating to narcotrafficking. In his place, the Venezuelan delegation was represented by foreign minister Yván Gil Pinto.
In the case of Mexico, president Andrés Manuel López Obrador also opted to not participate in this year’s CELAC summit, excusing himself due to the duties of the office at the time being. However, he did send a video recording urging CELAC leaders to issue a joint statement in support for the freedom of former Peruvian president Pedro Castillo, currently awaiting trial since his failed coup attempt. In addition, López Obrador called for the cessation of “repression” and “fair” elections in Peru.
Since Peru is going through a violent political climate since Castillo’s failed coup and subsequent constitutional removal by Congress, president Dina Boluarte excused herself from attending the summit. In her place, the Andean country was represented by foreign minister Ana Cecilia Gervasi. It is important to note that the removed Peruvian leader tried to unconstitutionally dissolve the legislature, judiciary, and other autonomous bodies by installing a “government of emergency and exception”, announcing his measures via a televised address to the nation. Castillo ultimately tried to escape the presidential palace as he realized his coup was doomed, and unsuccessfully sought asylum in the Mexican embassy in Lima, only to be detained by the police before arriving. López Obrador eventually granted asylum to Castillo’s wife and children under the grounds of “political persecution”.
Conclusions
This year’s CELAC summit culminated with its traditional 111-point statement, in this occasion known as the Buenos Aires Declaration. Among the most important points are the following:
The member states’ affirmation of support for the dialogue between the Bolivarian Government of Venezuela and the political opposition table;
Calls for an end to the United States blockade of Cuba;
The crafting of a model of regional integration, which would prioritise each country’s needs, while calling for the defence of sovereignty as a key tenet for the proposed ambitious projects.
What to expect for the next CELAC summit?
The ideological leaning of this year’s CELAC summit was the most important aspect in terms of finding consensus among member states. With the return of Lula to the Brazilian presidency, Fernández’ Argentina smiles upon forging a strong economic alliance with Brazil. But destiny may not be so favourable to the left-wing peronist head of state.
Recent national polls suggest an ideological shift in the Argentine presidency as Fernández faces strong challenges from the large centre-right coalition, Juntos por el Cambio, and a libertarian movement headed by self-described minarchist MP Javier Milei, La Libertad Avanza. This hypothetical change in power could once again put a halt to any type of regional cooperation between the two South American giants, and in turn, affect the majority of CELAC’s members’ interest in favour of stronger regional bonds.
*Photo used in the image of this article is by REUTERS/Agustin Marcarian.