Venezuela and South Africa strengthen cultural cooperation at MONDIACULT 2025

Published at: 30/09/2025 08:33 AM

Within the framework of the UNESCO World Conference on Cultural Policies (MONDIACULT 2025), which is being held in Barcelona, Spain, the Minister for Culture, Ernesto Villegas, held a meeting with his South African counterpart for Sports, Arts and Culture, Gayton Makenzie, to strengthen cultural ties between the two nations.

In that regard, he stressed that Venezuela and South Africa “will redouble their efforts to raise the level of their cultural relations.”

At the same time, he expressed Venezuela's willingness to support South Africa at its first book fair, in order to consolidate cooperation in publishing matters.

At the request of Minister Makenzie, Villegas provided details about the military siege that the United States maintains against Venezuela.

He denounced the North American threat in the Caribbean Sea, mentioning that there are eight ships and a nuclear submarine “pointing towards Venezuela”.

He reiterated that this aggression is based on a false narrative about the fight against drug trafficking. “According to figures from the United Nations, 87% of the drugs that pass from South America to the United States do so through the Pacific Ocean and not through the Caribbean Sea,” he said.

In addition, he stated that Venezuela is not a drug-producing country. “What we do have is a lot of oil.”

Villegas hoped that “rationality will prevail” in Washington. “It's better to leave ourselves alone... We don't let ourselves be frightened,” he said, highlighting the courage of the Venezuelan people.

In this context, he mentioned the importance of international solidarity, citing the meeting also held with the Minister of Culture of Vietnam.

In addition, South African Minister Makenzie emphasized the support of the BRICS countries (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) for the peaceful overcoming of this situation, thus highlighting the role of culture as a tool for peace.

The official said that both countries must be “more united” to face difficulties and confirms that South Africa has tried to put Venezuela on its road map, after assuring that the country has “a lot to offer the world”.

The highest authority in Venezuelan culture backed this idea with a call for peace through culture. “We count on the solidarity of our friends. With culture we can do a lot for peace. Let the guns not sound, but the guitar, the trumpet, the poetry, the theater,” he said.

In turn, he stressed that, while Venezuela faces this challenge, festivals, fairs and cultural activities continue. “It is a country that wants to move forward to realize the dreams of Bolívar and Chávez, being victorious,” said Villegas.

Mazo News Team