Brussels, June 15 (teleSUR-RHC)-- Bolivian President Evo Morales urged European countries to release themselves from the “shackles of the North American Empire” by turning their backs on the International Monetary Fund.

Speaking to RT while in Brussels for the EU-CELAC summit, Morales equated the IMF with U.S. “imperial dominance,” and suggested that the EU join forces with Latin America to become independent. “I would want to conclude an alliance with Europe to free ourselves together from (the U.S.) imperial dominance and its neocolonial mentality which seeks hegemony,” he said.

“Everything is well here in Latin America: Bolivia is showing significant economic growth due to the fact that we have gained political independence. The U.S. no longer governs our country through its embassy and doesn’t make decisions for us. The IMF doesn’t decide for us in the economy sector,” he added.

Morales also went on to reaffirm his solidarity with Russia in the face of U.S. sanctions over the crisis in Ukraine. “We fully support Russia’s struggle for its sovereignty as well as fully understand the existing differences in Ukraine. It is necessary to be guided by what the people want. You cannot impose your will in the pursuit of geopolitical interests,” he said.