During his speech at the extraordinary meeting of Heads of State and Government of the Bolivarian Alliance for the Peoples of Our America-People’s Trade Treaty (ALBA-TCP), Bolivian President Luis Arce Catacora emphasized the urgent need to consolidate Latin American integration and criticized recent immigration policies implemented by the United States.

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Arce highlighted that the current historical context presents new challenges that require collective and coordinated responses. “Our America is under the gaze of a superpower that seeks to dictate, through force, the transition to another world order,” he stated, referring to the increasing pressure from Washington on the region.

One of the central themes of the Bolivian leader’s speech was migration, which he described as a manifestation of global crisis and inequality. In this regard, he warned against the danger of criminalizing migrants and advocated for an approach based on respect for human rights.

“Beyond international agreements, the real challenge lies in preventing any attempt to criminalize migration. We must ensure dignified treatment for every person on the move,” he asserted.

Arce proposed that ALBA-TCP take an active role in the multilateral arena to promote recognition of migration as a human right. He also denounced recent episodes of mass deportations from the United States, describing as “outrageous” images of migrants being handcuffed and chained, which he claimed “revive memories of slavery.”

The Bolivian president expressed his support for Cuba’s protest against the U.S. government’s announcement to convert Guantanamo Naval Base into a detention center for migrants. “We join our Cuban brothers in protesting this new affront to human rights,” he emphasized.

Additionally, Arce addressed the emerging role of artificial intelligence in the region, highlighting the need for an organized approach to its development. “Artificial intelligence is not bad, but we must organize ourselves to use it appropriately,” he noted, referencing agreements reached at the XXIV ALBA-TCP Summit regarding emerging technologies.

In his closing message, Arce underscored that solidarity is a fundamental principle for achieving true Latin American and Caribbean integration. “Our region, which has resisted looting, impositions, and artificial borders created to divide what is indivisible, now has the opportunity to demonstrate that unity is not a utopia,” he concluded.

The extraordinary ALBA-TCP meeting takes place amid growing tensions with the United States and aims to assess progress in economic, social, and political areas. Topics discussed include revitalization of Petrocaribe, strengthening intraregional trade, and developing a Center for Science and Technology for research in artificial intelligence.

This gathering also coincides with the 230th anniversary of independence hero Antonio José de Sucre’s birth, an important symbol in the fight for independence and Latin American unity.

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