CELAC rejects U.S. military presence in the Caribbean (+Communiqué)

Published at: 05/09/2025 12:15 PM

The countries that make up the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) expressed their “deep concern” about the extraregional military deployment carried out by the United States (USA) in the Caribbean.

In a statement released by Venezuelan Foreign Minister Yván Gil, the regional bloc recalled the historic milestone that made Latin America and the Caribbean the first nuclear-free zone.

Below is the full text of the document:

Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Cuba, Dominica, Grenada, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname, Uruguay and Venezuela; countries that make up the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) express their deep concern about the recent extra-regional military deployment in the region.

In this regard, it is recalled that Latin America and the Caribbean have been proclaimed as a Zone of Peace, a commitment adopted by all member States and based on principles such as: the prohibition of the threat or use of force, the peaceful resolution of disputes, the promotion of dialogue and multilateralism, unrestricted respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity, non-interference in the internal affairs of States and the inalienable right of peoples to self-determination.

We also stress that the Treaty for the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons in Latin America and the Caribbean (Treaty of Tlatelolco) constitutes a historic milestone that made our region the first densely populated area in the world free of this type of weapons. This treaty reflects the vocation of our peoples for peace, collective security and the definitive prohibition of nuclear weapons as a means of coercion or threat.

We recognize, on the other hand, that transnational organized crime and drug trafficking constitute a significant threat to achieving peaceful and inclusive societies, and therefore reaffirm their willingness to combat them as a matter of priority, increasing regional and international cooperation and coordination within the framework of respect for international law and complying with existing legal frameworks and international conventions.

The CELAC countries that signed this declaration call for the promotion of a safe environment and reiterate their firm commitment to the defense of peace, stability, democracy and development throughout the region.

Mazo News Team