Lula calls CELAC the most important decision in the region in 500 years

Before the highest representatives of the member countries of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC), Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva declared that the region is currently facing one of the most critical moments in its history, when attempts to restore former hegemonies threaten the autonomy of the countries in the region.

The Brazilian president referred to the long road traveled by Latin Americans and Caribbeans to consolidate their ideals of emancipation, abolish slavery, and overcome military dictatorships. Meanwhile, he urged people to put aside national differences to face common challenges.

"If we remain separated, the Latin American and Caribbean community risks returning to the status of a zone of influence in a new division of the globe between superpowers.  It is imperative that Latin America and the Caribbean redefine their place in the emerging new global order.  We need a program of action structured around three themes that demand collective action," he stated.

As part of this, Lula da Silva first highlighted the defense of democracy, after insisting that no country can impose its political system on another. In this regard, he pointed to the erosion of trust in politics and the opening of space for what he called authoritarian projects.

The Brazilian president denounced that coup attempts have once again become part of everyday life and clarified that the security of countries in the region depends on whether they are able to eradicate hunger, generate well-being, and guarantee opportunities for all.

Secondly, he referred to the need for joint action against climate change, after clarifying that the latest report on the issue identifies Latin America and the Caribbean as one of the most vulnerable regions on the planet.

Lula da Silva also highlighted economic and trade integration as a point of common interest for all those present at the forum. "The stronger and more united our economies are, the more protected we will be from unilateral actions," he asserted.

He also took the opportunity to denounce the arbitrary tariffs imposed by the US government, led by Republican magnate Donald Trump, as a threat to the stability of the international economy.  In this context, he called for greater unity among the region's nations in the face of disputes over former hegemonies. "Trade wars have no winners," he added.

The Brazilian president indicated that the region's autonomy is once again in jeopardy due to the interference of old and new powers. " If we continue to stand still, we run the risk of falling into a new zone of influence in a new division of the world," he declared.  In fact, he proposed reviving the pluralistic and democratic spirit that created the Union of South American Nations (UNASUR) and CELAC, so that Latin America and the Caribbean can redefine their place in the new global order under discussion.