February 25, 2010
In a commentary, London’s The Guardian examined the Unity Summit of Latin American and Caribbean nations that took place February 22-23 in Cancun, Mexico. The author, Mark Weisbrot, writes, “Latin America took another historic step forward this week with the creation of a new regional organization of 32 Latin American and Caribbean countries. The United States and Canada were excluded.” He added, “The increasing independence of Latin America has been one of the most important geopolitical changes over the last decade, affecting not only the region but the rest of the world as well….Latin America, once under the control of the United States, is increasingly emerging as a power bloc with its own interests and agenda.”
Weisbrot writes, “The differences underlying the need for a new organization were clear in the statements and declarations that took place in the Unity Summit, which issued a strong statement backing Argentina in its dispute with the UK over the Malvinas (as they are called in Argentina) or Falklands Islands. The summit also condemned the continuing US embargo against Cuba. These and other measures would be almost impossible to pass in the Organization of American States, he adds. Furthermore, he claims, “the OAS has long been manipulated by the United States.” He argues that perhaps the leadership exercised by Mexico in establishing this new organization will stimulate some rethinking. He maintains that the US has become increasingly less important as a trading partner for the region, which also has found alternative sources of investment capital.
In his estimation, Weisbrot says the new organization is sorely needed because a regional organization “without the US and Canada will be more capable of defending democracy, as well as economic and social progress in the region when it is under attack. It will also have a positive influence in helping to create a more multipolar world internationally.”
Read the Latin American and Caribbean Unity Summit Declaration in English
Read the Latin American and Caribbean Unity Summit Declaration in Spanish
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