ALBA-TCP Summit Convenes in Venezuela, Strengthening Regional Cooperation

On April 25, 2024, Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro welcomed regional leaders at the Miraflores Palace in Caracas for the XXIII ALBA-TCP Summit. The summit, which marked the 20th anniversary of the Bolivarian Alliance for the Peoples of the Americas (ALBA), was attended by the presidents of Bolivia, Nicaragua, and Cuba, as well as prime ministers and high-level officials from other member states.

During the summit, Maduro presented the ALBA 2030 Agenda, which aims to establish a coalition of cooperation, relaunch PetroCaribe, create an ALBA Food plan, and promote shared development in various fields. The agenda outlines actions in five dimensions: economic, political, social, cultural, and communicational.

Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez, in his speech, invoked the legacy of Martí and Bolívar, emphasizing the importance of ALBA-TCP as an alliance of solidarity and cooperation. He condemned the impunity of Israel's actions against the Palestinian people and called for the immediate entry of the State of Palestine as a full member of the United Nations.

Bolivian President Luis Arce called for an end to U.S. blockades and unilateral coercive measures against Latin American countries. He proposed that ALBA-TCP should associate with other blocs of the Global South and offered to form an international brigade to support the Palestinian people.

Why this matters: The ALBA-TCP Summit serves as a platform for strengthening regional cooperation and addressing the challenges facing member states in Latin America and the Caribbean. The adoption of the ALBA 2030 Agenda and the discussions on issues such as solidarity with Palestine and countering U.S. interference highlight the bloc's commitment to promoting a multipolar world order based on principles of sovereignty, social justice, and economic complementarity.

The summit concluded with the presentation of the Summit Declaration and the ALBA-TCP Strategic Agenda, which incorporates actions in economic, political, social, cultural, and communicational dimensions. The leaders reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening the ALBA-TCP as a mechanism for union, dialogue, and political coordination, and reiterated their support for the Proclamation of Latin America and the Caribbean as a Zone of Peace.

Key Takeaways

• ALBA-TCP summit held in Caracas, marking 20th anniversary of the alliance.
• Maduro presented ALBA 2030 Agenda for cooperation, PetroCaribe relaunch, and shared development.
• Leaders condemned U.S. interference, called for end to blockades, and supported Palestine.
• Summit adopted declaration and strategic agenda across economic, political, and social dimensions.
• Leaders reaffirmed commitment to ALBA-TCP as a mechanism for union, dialogue, and coordination.