The 10th Summit of Heads of State and Government of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) concluded in Bogota on Saturday with the adoption of the Bogotá Declaration.
The document, comprising 35 agreements, highlighted first and foremost the continued full validity of the Proclamation of Latin America and the Caribbean as a Zone of Peace, as well as the unrestricted commitment of the regional bloc’s member states to ensure respect for that declaration.
Furthermore, they deemed the current moment opportune for a person born in Latin America and the Caribbean to assume the responsibility of holding the office of Secretary-General of the United Nations, considering that such an appointment would strengthen the UN’s capacity to address global challenges and to promote peace, development, and justice.
Member nations also expressed their support for and solidarity with the Government and people of Haiti in their efforts to achieve political, economic, and social stability, while reiterating their backing for national, regional, and international initiatives aimed at fostering peaceful, inclusive, and sustainable solutions in that country.
The declaration likewise endorsed the decision of those countries that supported United Nations General Assembly Resolution A/RES/80/4—dated October 29, 2025—regarding the necessity of ending the economic, commercial, and financial blockade imposed against Cuba, as well as their opposition to laws and regulations with extraterritorial effects.
The document acknowledges that Cuba’s designation as a State Sponsor of Terrorism, and its continued presence on that list, creates obstacles to international financial transactions involving the island.
CELAC member countries expressed concern over the growing number of armed conflicts and underscored the need to prioritize the peaceful settlement of disputes, diplomacy, dialogue, and the strengthening of multilateralism, with full respect for international law, including the United Nations Charter. In the text, they affirmed their resolve to join forces to deepen cooperation mechanisms in the fight against the various manifestations of transnational organized crime—such as corruption, illicit drug trafficking, and the illicit manufacture and trafficking of firearms, ammunition, and explosives.
Other topics addressed in the Declaration concern the importance of coordinating regional action to mitigate the effects of climate change, as well as the need to foster the development and strengthening of flexible financial instruments.
The members of the alliance reiterated their commitment to promote and facilitate collective action and international cooperation, with the aim of enabling the bloc to contribute to the economic growth and development of the entire region.
During the Summit, held at the Ágora Convention Center in this capital city, Colombia handed over the *pro tempore* presidency of CELAC to Uruguay.
[ SOURCE: PRENSA LATINA ]
