Latin American countries should create their own union, following the example of the EU, with reference to local realities.
This proposal was made by the President of Mexico, Andrés Manuel López Obrador, at the summit of the foreign ministers of the states - members of the Community of Latin America and the Caribbean.
In his opinion, such an association may well replace the Organization of American States, whose headquarters are located in Washington.
“The proposal is nothing more and nothing less than creating something similar to the European Union, but tied to our history, our reality and our identity.
In this sense, it should not be ruled out that the OAS will be replaced by a truly autonomous body, not by someone's lackey, but by a mediator at the request and agreement of the parties to the conflict in matters of human rights and democracy, ”RIA Novosti quotes Obrador.
According to the Mexican president, this is the only way to say goodbye to "imposition, interference, sanctions, isolation and blockade."
President of Mexico Andrés Manuel Lopez Obrador
Reuters
© Mexico's Presidency
At the same time, he acknowledged that the issue of creating such a union requires "a new political and economic vision."
Obrador's statement came amid disagreements between Mexico and the position of OAS Secretary General Luis Almagro on a number of issues.
In particular, their views differ on the events that took place in Venezuela in 2019.
Then in Mexico City they announced that they would recognize Nicolas Maduro as the legitimate president of the country, while Almagro called the regime of the Venezuelan head "a dictatorship that usurped power."
In addition, the Mexican authorities support Cuba, in respect of which the United States has maintained an economic embargo for several decades, and where the situation with food and medicine has seriously deteriorated since the beginning of the pandemic.
"The need is long overdue"
Experts note that the idea that the Mexican president put forward has been in the air for a long time.
The reason for this, according to Dmitry Burykh, adviser to the president of the Russian Social and Political Center, is the OAS adherence to the course imposed by the United States.
“There is a long overdue need in the region to create such an alliance, given that the Organization of American States, which is now a key regional mechanism, is de facto under the influence of the United States and its temporary allies, radical right-wing regimes trying to impose an agenda similar to the Western ", - explained Burykh in a commentary on RT.
As a reminder, the OAS is one of the oldest regional organizations in the world.
It was created on April 30, 1948 at the 9th Inter-American Conference in Bogota (Colombia) based on the Pan American Union.
It includes 35 countries, including the USA and Canada.
The main directions of activity declared by the OAS are maintaining peace and security in the Western Hemisphere, resolving disputes between member states, protecting their territorial integrity.
The OAS is headquartered in Washington, DC.
Organization of American States Headquarters in Washington DC
© Wikimedia
As Dmitry Burykh emphasized, the creation of a union on the basis of the EU, which will replace the OAS, is a rather ambitious task, which will not be easy to accomplish.
“It will be very difficult to implement such an idea.
It will face strong opposition from the United States, which considers the Organization of American States to be one of the key mechanisms for implementing its policy in the region.
Nevertheless, the experience of creating certain organizations on the part of Cuba and Venezuela will make it possible to create an effective and respected organization, ”the analyst said.
Vladimir Shapovalov, deputy director of the Institute of History and Politics at Moscow State Pedagogical University, also called the creation of a regional union by Latin American countries natural.
After all, they are united by a common history, culture, tradition and religion, the expert added.
At the same time, Shapovalov agrees with the Burykh's point of view that the United States will in every possible way hinder such undertakings.
“The idea of closer integration and cooperation between the countries of Latin America has existed for a long time.
Another thing is that at present they are in the grip of the United States, which, starting from the first half of the 19th century, within the framework of the Monroe Doctrine, regard them as a territory subject to them, "Shapovalov emphasized in a conversation with RT.
Striving for isolation
At the same time, experts note that in the practice of the countries of the Western Hemisphere there is already a successful experience of organizing associations.
In particular, Vladimir Shapovalov recalled that, for example, Venezuela managed to create the Bolivarian Alliance - an unification of the countries of Latin America and the Caribbean with a socialist orientation.
The declaration on its creation in 2004 was signed by Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez and Cuban leader Fidel Castro.
In addition to ALBA, the Community of Latin America and the Caribbean (CELAC), created in 2010 for deeper integration of Latin American countries, is also successfully operating.
In this regard, Shapovalov stressed that the idea expressed by the President of Mexico is quite timely.
“The processes taking place in the countries of Latin America indicate that more and more politicians and leaders of states are striving to isolate themselves, separate from the United States and create their own effective platform.
Therefore, I am sure that the future of the Latin American countries lies precisely with such a union, ”the expert said.
In turn, Dmitry Burykh suggested that Cuba, Venezuela, Bolivia, Argentina, Ecuador, Peru and Brazil could join the Latin American Union.
"Despite certain difficulties, such an organization is quite realistic to create and launch it so that later it becomes a serious and respected regional mechanism that would be able to perform mediating functions in resolving conflicts," Burykh summed up.