Bolivian President Luis Arce Attends ALBA Summit in Venezuela

Bolivian President Luis Arce traveled to Venezuela on Monday to attend the XXIII Summit of the Bolivarian Alliance for the Peoples of Our America (ALBA) in Caracas. During his absence, Vice President David Choquehuanca was left in charge of Bolivia.

The ALBA summit, held at the Miraflores presidential palace, brought together leaders from several member countries, including Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel, and Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega. Other attendees included heads of government from Antigua and Barbuda, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Dominica, and St. Lucia.

The summit addressed issues of common interest among the participating countries, such as strengthening sovereignty in the global South, solidarity with Palestine, and countering U.S. interference in the region. The leaders adopted the ALBA-TCP Strategic Agenda 2030 to guide and consolidate the alliance over the coming years.

During his remarks at the summit, President Arce condemned what he called the "unacceptable genocide" in the Gaza Strip and called for the formation of an international brigade to support the Palestinian people. He also criticized the $95 billion in U.S. military aid to Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan as a sign of continued destabilization efforts.

Why this matters: The ALBA summit highlights the ongoing efforts of leftist governments in Latin America and the Caribbean to counter U.S. influence in the region and promote alternative models of cooperation and development. The positions taken by leaders at the summit also reflect growing international support for the Palestinian cause and opposition to U.S. foreign policy.

Arce further demanded respect for the principles of equal rights and self-determination of peoples, urging the cessation of interventionist policies and unilateral measures against Latin American and Caribbean countries. He called for unity among the Global South, including the African Union, Caricom, and BRICS, to strengthen ALBA-TCP and contribute to a more just, equitable, and inclusive world order.

The ALBA-TCP countries reaffirmed the importance of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) as a mechanism for regional integration and political coordination. They also rejected the Monroe Doctrine and any efforts to establish new forms of domination in the region, while demanding the immediate lifting of sanctions against member states like Nicaragua and Venezuela.

Key Takeaways

• Bolivian President Arce attended ALBA summit in Venezuela, with other regional leaders.
• Summit addressed issues like sovereignty, Palestine, and countering U.S. interference in region.
• Leaders adopted ALBA-TCP Strategic Agenda 2030 to guide the alliance's future.
• Arce condemned U.S. military aid and called for support for Palestinian people.
• ALBA countries reaffirmed CELAC's role and rejected Monroe Doctrine and sanctions.