The Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) is an integration mechanism whose membership is exclusive to the 33 countries of the region. CELAC was not exempt from the crisis that multilateralism has suffered in recent times, since the duplication of agendas and ideological polarization had led it to an impasse since 2018.
It was not until 2020 that Mexico saw in CELAC an opportunity to make the region’s voice heard and demonstrate that dialogue is the best strategy. To do this, during his presidency, which included the 2020-2021 biennium, he pondered the issues of cooperation over politicians, in addition, the situation of the Covid-19 pandemic exacerbated the need for nations to cooperate in the face of common threats.
As the months went by and taking all its diplomatic capital, CELAC resumed the scene in the concert of nations, meeting with its main extra-regional partners, making joint statements and having a constant dialogue. All of the above was reflected in the VI Summit of Heads of State and Government, held in Mexico City, however, it was time to pass the baton to a member that would continue the Mexican efforts; Argentina was elected to hold the PPT in 2022.
Argentina identified continuities within the Mexican work, such as the consolidation of the Latin American and Caribbean Space Agency and the challenges of education in the region, in addition to adding atomic energy issues and the consolidation of dialogue with the bloc’s partners. The greatest achievement of his management is the meeting of CELAC-EU Ministers of Foreign Affairs, where Josep Borrell, High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, will meet with the membership in order to consolidate a CELAC-EU summit for 2023 and relaunch the bi-regional strategic association.
However, the Argentine mandate is about to end and the uncertainty of the continuity of CELAC’s activities is once again coming to the fore, since unlike the OAS, CELAC does not have a secretariat that attends to the work of the forum, so that its operation depends on the human and financial resources of the country that holds the presidency.
The regional scenario envisions several personalities who could take charge of this mechanism: Xiomara Castro from Honduras, Gustavo Petro and a Colombia with new horizons, or Lula Da Silva who would return to Brazil to active membership to have CELAC meet again they are prospected as the leaders who could raise their hands to preside over the mechanism in 2023.
However, during the last session of the AGONU, the usual meeting of foreign ministers was not held where it was expected to know the names of the candidates for the presidency, because the learning curve, the human limitations and such a short period at the head of the mechanism could hinder the work of the next president.
We will have to be attentive to see who will be the country in charge of harvesting these three years of revitalization of the mechanism, or perhaps we should reconsider President Maduro’s proposal to make CELAC an international organization with headquarters in Mexico, although the main problem is membership fees, it is true that Mexico has recognized its Latin American and Caribbean nature and could be a pioneer in financing the regional integration project.
Brandon Pérez is an associate of the Mexican Council of International Affairs.
empresas@eleconomista.com.mx
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