Community of Latin American and Caribbean States

{{See also|Rio Group|I Latin American and Caribbean Summit on Integration and Development|Latin American and Caribbean Unity Summit}}

The immediate predecessor of the CELAC is the Rio Group. Formed in 1986, it gathered 24 Latin American and Caribbean countries around summits to cooperate regional policy issue independently of the United States.{{sfn|Rojas Aravena|Altmann Borbón|Beirute Brealey|2012|pp=25-27}}

On 16–17 December 2008, the I Latin American and Caribbean Summit on Integration and Development (CALC) took place in Costa do Sauipe, Bahia, Brazil. It was organized at the initiative of the Lula administration with the goal of building cooperation mechanism with greater autonomy from the United States and Canada. Most heads of state from Latin America and the Caribbean states attended, with the exception of President of Colombia Álvaro Uribe and President of Peru Alan García.{{sfn|Rojas Aravena|Altmann Borbón|Beirute Brealey|2012|p=27}} The summit finished with the signing of the Bahia Declaration, a common agenda establishing the following priorities: cooperation between mechanism of regional and subregional integration, the 2008 financial crisis, energy, infrastructures, social development and eradication of hunger and poverty, food security, sustainable development, natural disasters, human rights promotion, migration, South–South cooperation and Latin America and Caribbean projection.{{sfn|Rojas Aravena|Altmann Borbón|Beirute Brealey|2012|p=28}}{{cite web|title=Declaración de Salvador, Bahía|url=http://walk.sela.org/attach/258/EDOCS/SRed/2009/01/T023600003287-0-Primera_Cumbre_CALC_-_Declaraci%C3%B3n_de_Salvador,_Bah%C3%ADa,_Brasil_-_17_de_diciembre_de_2008.pdf|date=17 December 2008|language=es}}

In 2008, the Calderón administration of Mexico proposed the creation of the Latin American and the Caribbean Union (Spanish: Unión Latinoamericana y del Caribe, ULC). The proposal was formalized on 27 March 2009 at Rio Group meeting. At the initiative of Mexico, the XXI Rio Summit and the II CALC summit were held together on 22–23 February 2010 in Playa del Carmen, Mexico. The joint summit was named the Latin American and Caribbean Unity Summit and the 33 attending states decided to create the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC), which would be formally established in 2011.{{sfn|Rojas Aravena|Altmann Borbón|Beirute Brealey|2012|pp=29-30}}

Hugo Chávez, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and Rafael Correa were among the other prominent left-wing leaders who praised the creation of CELAC.{{in lang|pt}} {{cite news |last1=writer |first1=Staff |author-link1= |date=February 25, 2010 |location= |title=A retórica da integração |script-title= |title-link= |url=http://www.estadao.com.br/estadaodehoje/20100225/not_imp515817,0.php |url-access= |trans-title=The rhetoric of integration |format= |department= |work= |script-work= |trans-work= |type= |series= |language=PT-br |volume= |issue= |translator-last1= |translator-first1= |translator-link1= |translator-last2= |translator-first2= |translator-link2= |display-translators= |translator-mask1= |translator-mask2= |others= |name-list-style= |edition= |publication-place=Brazil |publisher=Estadao |publication-date= |agency= |no-pp= |arxiv= |asin= |asin-tld= |bibcode= |bibcode-access= |biorxiv= |citeseerx= |doi= |doi-access= |doi-broken-date= |eissn= |hdl= |hdl-access= |isbn= |ismn= |issn= |jfm= |jstor= |jstor-access= |lccn= |medrxiv= |mr= |oclc= |ol= |ol-access= |osti= |osti-access= |pmc= |pmc-embargo-date= |pmid= |rfc= |sbn= |ssrn= |s2cid= |s2cid-access= |zbl= |id= |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100301072210/http://www.estadao.com.br/estadaodehoje/20100225/not_imp515817,0.php |archive-format= |archive-date=March 1, 2010 |access-date=January 8, 2025 |via= |quote= |script-quote= |trans-quote= |mode= |ref= }} In July 2010, CELAC selected President of Venezuela Hugo Chávez and President of Chile Sebastián Piñera, as co-chairs of the forum to draft statutes for the organization.{{cite news |last1=Suggett |first1=James |title=Venezuela Hosts Regional Unity Summit, Rejects U.S. Accusations |url=https://venezuelanalysis.com/news/5473/ |work=Venezuelanalysis |date=6 July 2010}}

The announcement prompted debate and discussion across Latin America and the Caribbean about whether it was more beneficial to have close ties with the U.S. and Canada or to work independently.{{in lang|es}} {{cite news |last1=Zibechi |first1=Raúl |author-link1= |date=February 26, 2010 |location= |title=El bloque latinoamericano y caribeño |url=https://www.jornada.com.mx/2010/02/26/index.php?section=opinion&article=020a1pol |url-access= |trans-title=The bloc Latin-American and Caribbean |format= |department= |work= |script-work= |trans-work= |type= |series= |language=ES-mx |volume= |issue= |translator-last1= |translator-first1= |translator-link1= |translator-last2= |translator-first2= |translator-link2= |display-translators= |translator-mask1= |translator-mask2= |others= |name-list-style= |edition= |publication-place=Mexico |publisher=La Jornada |publication-date=February 26, 2010 |arxiv= |asin= |asin-tld= |bibcode= |bibcode-access= |biorxiv= |citeseerx= |doi= |doi-access= |doi-broken-date= |eissn= |hdl= |hdl-access= |isbn= |ismn= |issn= |jfm= |jstor= |jstor-access= |lccn= |medrxiv= |mr= |oclc= |ol= |ol-access= |osti= |osti-access= |pmc= |pmc-embargo-date= |pmid= |rfc= |sbn= |ssrn= |s2cid= |s2cid-access= |zbl= |id= |archive-format= |access-date=January 8, 2025 |via= |quote-page= |quote-pages= |quote=The creation of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States is part of a global and continental shift, characterized by the decline of U.S. hegemony and the rise of a group of regional blocs that form part of the new global balance. |script-quote= |trans-quote= |ref= }}

An editorial in Brazil's Estadão newspaper said, "CELAC reflects the disorientation of the region's governments in relation to its problematic environment and its lack of foreign policy direction, locked as it is into the illusion that snubbing the United States will do for Latin American integration what 200 years of history failed to do."

{{Main|2011 CELAC summit}}

CELAC's inaugural summit was due to be held in mid-2011, but was postponed because of the ill-health of Hugo Chávez, president of the host nation, Venezuela. The summit was instead held on December 2 and 3, 2011, in Caracas.{{cite news|title=Latin American summit re-run to test Chavez health|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-venezuela-chavez-idUSTRE7AT23D20111130|access-date=December 2, 2011|newspaper=Reuters|date=November 30, 2011}} It primarily focused on the global economic crisis and its effects on the region. Several leaders, including presidents Cristina Fernández de Kirchner, Dilma Rousseff and Juan Manuel Santos, encouraged an increase in regional trade, economic development, and further economic cooperation among members in order to defend their growing economies.{{Cite news|author=Rueda, Jorge|author2=James, Ian |author3=Toothaker, Christopher |agency=Associated Press |title=Leaders at Americas talks: world economy top worry|url=http://www.seattlepi.com/news/article/Leaders-at-Americas-talks-world-economy-top-worry-2340146.php|date=December 3, 2011|newspaper=Seattle pi|publisher=Hearst Communications Inc.}}

Chávez, and other leaders such as Rafael Correa and Daniel Ortega, expressed hope that the bloc would work to further Latin American integration, end U.S. hegemony and consolidate control over regional affairs. Chávez, citing the Monroe Doctrine as the original confirmation of U.S. interference in the region, openly called for CELAC to replace the OAS: "As the years go by, CELAC is going to leave behind the old and worn-out OAS." Correa called for a new human rights commission to replace the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights. Other leaders argued that the organisation should be used as a tool to resolve regional disagreements and uphold democratic values, but not as a replacement of the OAS. Santos stated that he would like to see dialogue within the group over whether existing counter-drug regulations should be revised. The president of the Latin American Parliament (Parlatino) said he expects that Parlatino will become the main legislative institution of CELAC.{{Cite news|title=Parlatino Interested in Being CELAC Legislative Organization|url=http://www.plenglish.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=456139&Itemid=1|date=December 2, 2011|agency=Prensa Latina}} Amongst the key issues on the agenda were the creation of a "new financial architecture," sanction for maintaining the legal status of coca in Bolivia and the rejection of the Cuban embargo by the U.S.{{cite web|url=http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/opinion/2012/04/201241272337682401.html |title=Obama in Cartagena: No change, dwindling hope – Opinion |publisher=Al Jazeera English |access-date=2012-05-25}}

United States President Barack Obama's senior adviser on Latin America, Daniel Restrepo, informed reporters from Miami that the U.S. government would "watch and see what direction CELAC takes".{{cite news|author=Christopher Toothaker |url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/12/02/celac-latin-american-carribean-states_n_1125831.html |title=CELAC, Community of Latin American And Caribbean States, New Organization Aims To Strengthen Regional Integration |publisher=Huffingtonpost.com |access-date=2013-10-25 |date=December 2, 2011}}

Brazil decided to suspend its participation in the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States in January 2020 under the administration of Jair Bolsonaro.{{cite news |title=Brazil sits out leftist Latin American nations' body on anti-democracy fears |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-brazil-diplomacy-celac-idUSKBN1ZF2U9 |work=Reuters |date=16 January 2020 |language=en}} Following the 2022 Brazilian general election, newly elected president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva signalled his intention to rejoin the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States,{{cite web|title=Lula's government plan|url=https://divulgacandcontas.tse.jus.br/candidaturas/oficial/2022/BR/BR/544/candidatos/893498/5_1659820284477.pdf|accessdate=23 November 2022|publisher=Superior Electoral Court|language=pt|archive-date=November 2, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221102003420/https://divulgacandcontas.tse.jus.br/candidaturas/oficial/2022/BR/BR/544/candidatos/893498/5_1659820284477.pdf|url-status=dead}} and effectively did so in the first days of his administration.{{cite news|title= Retorno do Brasil à CELAC |url=https://www.gov.br/mre/pt-br/canais_atendimento/imprensa/notas-a-imprensa/retorno-do-brasil-a-celac|language=pt}}

In June 2023, CELAC recognized the Latin American and Caribbean character of the island of Puerto Rico and “calls on the UN General Assembly to examine the question of Puerto Rico in its entirety and in all its aspects, and rule on this matter as soon as possible”.[http://www.cubadebate.cu/noticias/2023/06/24/onu-reafirma-el-derecho-de-puerto-rico-a-su-libre-determinacion-e-independencia/].

{{See also|Pro tempore presidency of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States}}

The CELAC has six organs:{{cite book|first=Raúl|last=Bernal-Meza|title=Modelos o esquemas de integración y cooperación en curso en América Latina (UNASUR, Alianza del Pacífico, ALBA, CELAC): una mirada panorámica|year=2013 |url=https://core.ac.uk/download/pdf/79476813.pdf|publisher=Ibero-American Institute|language=es|pages=15–17|isbn=978-3-935656-53-5}}

• The summit of Heads of State and Government.
• The meeting of Ministers of Foreign Affairs.
• The meeting of National Coordinators.
• The pro tempore presidency.
• The Troika.

The pro tempore presidency is the main representative of the CELAC. The troika is composed by the current pro tempore presidency, its predecessor, its successor and the presidency of the CARICOM.

The regional body has joint forums that work with external global entities, including China{{cite web |url=https://www.oilprice.com/Energy/Energy-General/China-CELAC-Agreement-Could-Bolster-Infrastructure-Development-In-Latin-America.html |url-access= |title=China-CELAC Agreement Could Bolster Infrastructure Development In Latin America |author=Staff writer |date=February 13, 2022 |agency=OilPrice.com |access-date=16 February 2022 |quote= }}{{cite web |url=https://www.fmprc.gov.cn/mfa_eng/wjb_663304/zzjg_663340/ldmzs_664952/xwlb_664954/202112/t20211207_10463459.html |url-access= |title=China – CELAC Joint Action Plan For Cooperation In Key Areas (2022–2024) |author=Staff writer |date=December 7, 2021 |department=Latin America & the Caribbean |publisher=Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the People's Republic of China |access-date=February 16, 2022 |quote= }} and the European Union.

{{Main|2013 CELAC summit}}

File:ESO exhibition area at the CELAC–EU summit in Santiago.jpg

The EU-LAC Foundation chose CELAC to be the main organization representative of the relationship between European and Latin American and Caribbean countries.

{{Main|2014 CELAC summit}}

During the summit, the region was declared a "peace zone". After three days and with the approval of participating representatives, a document with 83 focus points was created. It emphasized that, despite cultural and regional differences, unity between the participating countries is necessary in order to create progress. "Unity and the integration of our region must be gradually constructed, with flexibility, with respect to differences, diversity, and the sovereign right of each of our countries to choose our own forms of political and economic organization" stated the document. It also states which countries have been developing the best and how they are doing it in order for them to be a model for other countries.

The issue of poverty was widely discussed. Cuba's Raúl Castro pointed out that throughout Latin America and the Caribbean, people wanted a fairer distribution of wealth, access to affordable education, employment, better salaries, and the eradication of illiteracy. He argued that CELAC countries can work together, support each other, to create new plans and solutions for these problems.{{cite web|url=http://www.fao.org/agronoticias/territorios-inteligentes/noticias/detalle/en/c/213240/|title=Conclusiones de la Cumbre de la CELAC 2014 en Cuba : AGRO Noticias|website=Fao.org|access-date=2016-03-08}}

{{Main|2015 CELAC summit}}

{{Main|2016 CELAC summit}}

File:270116MichettienEcuadorFoto13.JPG]]

{{Main|2017 CELAC summit}}

{{Main|2021 CELAC summit}}

{{Supranational American Bodies|size=400px|align=right}}

CELAC comprises 33 countries, speaking five different languages:

Eighteen Spanish-speaking countries

Twelve English-speaking countries

One Dutch-speaking country

• {{SUR}}

One French-speaking country

• {{HAI}}

One Portuguese-speaking country

• {{BRA}}

Twelve members are in South America. Portuguese-speaking Brazil suspended its membership in January 2020, alleging that the organization failed to "protect democracy" in member states. The decision was taken during the presidency of Jair Bolsonaro,{{cite web|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-brazil-diplomacy-celac/brazil-sits-out-leftist-latin-american-nations-body-on-anti-democracy-fears-idUSKBN1ZF2U9|title=Brazil sits out leftist Latin American nations' body on anti-democracy fears|date=2020-01-16|access-date=2020-01-18|publisher=Reuters}} who was himself accused of attacking Brazil's democratic institutions.{{cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/human-rights-watch-says-bolsonaro-threat-democracy-brazil-report-2022-01-13/?rpc=401&|title=Human Rights Watch says Bolsonaro a threat to democracy in Brazil – report|access-date=13 January 2022|website=Reuters.com|date=13 January 2022 }} Following the 2022 Brazilian general election, newly elected president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva signalled his intention to rejoin. After taking office Lula reinstated Brazil's membership into the organization.{{cite web |title=Regional Re-engagement: Understanding Brazil's Return to CELAC |url=https://www.interregional.com/en/regional-re-engagement/ |website=MIR |date=20 March 2023}}

{{Update section|date=December 2024|inaccurate=yes}}

{{See also|United Nations Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean}}

The following table shows various data for CELAC member states, including area, population, economic output and income inequality, as well as various composite indices, including human development, viability of the state, rule of law, perception of corruption, economic freedom, state of peace, freedom of the press and democratic level.

{{Portal|Latin America|Politics}}

{{Div col}}

• Andean Community
• Latin American Integration Association (ALADI)
• Bolivarian Alliance for the Peoples of Our America (ALBA)
• Caribbean Community (CARICOM)
• CAF – Development Bank of Latin America and the Caribbean
• EU–LAC Foundation
• Forum of East Asia–Latin America Cooperation (FEALAC)
• Latin American economy
• Latin America and Caribbean Network Information Centre
• Latin American and Caribbean Economic Association
• Latin American and Caribbean Space Agency
• Lima Group
• Mercosur
• Rio Group
• Latin American Economic System (SELA)
• Union of South American Nations (UNASUR)
• United Nations Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean

{{Div col end}}

{{Notelist}}

{{Reflist}}

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• {{cite book|first1=Francisco|last1=Rojas Aravena|first2=Josette|last2=Altmann Borbón|first3=Tatiana|last3=Beirute Brealey|chapter=Integración Política: Un nuevo camino hacia la Integración Latinoamericana|title=América Latina: Caminos de la integración regional|editor-first=Josette|editor-last=Altmann Borbón|year=2012|chapter-url=https://www.flacso.org/sites/default/files/Documentos/libros/secretaria-general/america_latina._caminos_de_la_integracion_regional.pdf|publisher=Latin American Social Sciences Institute|isbn=978-9977-68-240-2|language=es|pages=11–48|access-date=July 10, 2019|archive-date=October 26, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211026161524/https://www.flacso.org/sites/default/files/Documentos/libros/secretaria-general/america_latina._caminos_de_la_integracion_regional.pdf|url-status=dead}}

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{{Commons category}}

• {{official website}}
• [http://celacinternational.org/ CELAC INTERNATIONAL]

{{Pan-Americanism}}

{{South-South}}

{{Supranationalism/World government topics |autocollapse}}

{{International power}}

{{Regional organizations}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Community of Latin American and Caribbean States}}

Category:Intergovernmental organizations

Category:International organizations based in the Americas

Category:International organizations based in the Caribbean

Category:Organizations based in Latin America

Category:Organizations established in 2010

Category:Pan-Americanism