Determined to strengthen the European presence and investment in the region and address urgent issues such as climate change and food security, in the face of China’s growing push in the region, the presidents and representatives of the 22 Latin American countries, Spain, Portugal and Andorra will close the XXVIII Ibero-American Summit in Santo Domingo in the next few hours.
Like other international forums, on this occasion only commitments were reached that are expected to be consolidated at the European Union-Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (Celac) Summit scheduled for July 17-18 in Brussels.
On this point, King Felipe VI announced on Friday that a portfolio of strategic investment projects for the region will be presented at the July summit that will have the support of the EU and financial institutions such as the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development. , Inter-American Development Bank, Development Bank of Latin America and the Central American Bank for Economic Integration.
Counter China
In recent years, the EU has neglected its presence in Latin America, a situation that deepened during the years of the pandemic and the crisis that broke out in 2022 due to the Russian invasion of Ukrainewhich China has taken advantage of to position itself in the region.
To date, some twenty countries in the region have signed the memorandum of understanding of the Belt and Road Initiative, which is a strategy for global infrastructure development and international cooperation promoted by China since 2013.
Among the attendees are the head of the Spanish government, Pedro Sánchez; Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, from Portugal; Alberto Fernández, from Argentina; Gustavo Petro, from Colombia; Gabriel Boric, from Chile; Mario Abdo Benítez, from Paraguay; Luis Arce, from Bolivia; Luis Lacalle Pou, from Uruguay; Xiomara Castro, from Honduras; Miguel Díaz-Canel, from Cuba; Guillermo Lasso, from Ecuador, and the Prime Minister of Saint Vincent and the Grenadine, Ralph Gonsalves, as well as the head of foreign policy for the European Union, Josep Borrell, and the King of Spain, Felipe VI.
Notably absent were the presidents of Brazil and Mexico, Luiz Inácio Lula Da Silva and Andrés Manuel López Obrador, which raised doubts about the interest of the two largest economies in the region in the Ibero-American Summit.
Final absence of Maduro
On Friday night, the attendance of the president of Venezuela, Nicolás Maduro, was announced, which would be the first since he came to power 10 years ago and with which he would seek more international recognition after his re-election in 2018 was questioned and in the midst of the US sanctions. However, Caracas finally confirmed his absence.
Already the Venezuelan president with the changes of government in some countries of the region such as Colombia and Brazil, has achieved a little more support. In previous appointments, Maduro sent officials.
signing of agreements
During the second and last day of the forum, the signing of three agreements on the environment, food safety and digital rights that were previously discussed by the foreign ministers is expected.
In the previous meetings, a letter on international financial architecture that sought to stimulate the conditions to face the post-pandemic recovery, the energy transition and climate adaptation was also evaluated, but in the end it was not included in the package of agreements that the presidents will sign. , reported the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Dominican Republic, Roberto Álvarez.
The 28th edition of the summit started on friday with the presence of 14 presidents and vice presidents.
[Con información de AP y Reuters]
Connect with the Voice of America! Subscribe to our channel Youtube and activate notifications, or follow us on social networks: Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
