Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro addressing the CELAC summit, advocating for Latin American unity and condemning foreign aggressions. Apr 9, 2025. Photo: VTV.
Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro urged regional unity at CELAC summit, critiqued US sanctions, and proposed stronger cooperation to counter global challenges.
President Maduro Emphasizes Regional Unity at CELAC Summit
Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro participated in the Summit of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC), where he emphasized the importance of unity among nations as a global imperative for collective well-being.
During his address, Maduro proposed that CELAC revive its Ministerial Councils to strengthen cooperation among member states. As the president explained, due to security concerns detailed in intelligence reports, his participation in CELAC was carried out by virtual means. In January, 2025, the US increased the “bounty” they have offered “for information leading to the arrest and/or conviction” of President Maduro to US $25 million
Proposal for a CELAC General Secretariat
President Maduro noted that Venezuela is advocating for the creation of a CELAC General Secretariat to ensure timely meetings in strategic areas benefiting the region. The Venezuelan leader also highlighted that nations worldwide are victims of multifaceted aggressions, as mentioned by the governments of Nicaragua, Cuba, and Venezuela.
US Sanctions Blamed for Decline of Western Cooperation
In his speech, Maduro described coercive measures imposed by the US government as responsible for the decline of inter-regional cooperation in the Western Hemisphere. He argued that these actions have undermined international trade and economic rights, as well as bilateral and multilateral trade agreements.
“They seek to impose a new hegemonic economic and commercial model designed to dismantle the multipolar world that has emerged in recent decades,” President Maduro warned.
Migrant Crisis: “Assault on Civilization”
President Maduro also condemned aggression against Venezuelan migrants as “the most severe assault on civilization since the era of fascism and Nazism.” In this context, he criticized the application of the US Foreign Enemies Act of 1798, which criminalizes migrants.
Venezuela’s Dual Challenges: Economic and Humanitarian Aggression
President Maduro noted that Venezuela has faced two types of aggressions from the US government: economic and humanitarian. He urged CELAC countries to raise a unified voice and form a bloc of shared perspectives and proposals to address these challenges.
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Call for Collaboration and Sovereignty in a Multipolar World
Finally, the Venezuelan president called for collaborative efforts to advance global development and congratulated Colombia’s government for assuming CELAC’s pro tempore presidency. “To build a shared destiny, we must unite in diversity and champion this century with self-determination, sovereignty, and freedom,” Maduro concluded.
