ECLAC convened a biennial meeting in the Dominican Republic, bringing together 45 member states and 14 associates to discuss regional cooperation, digital transformation, and geopolitical shifts reshaping Latin American development prospects.
Former Chilean President Gabriel Boric contends that the country's participation in the United States-led Shield of the Americas alliance undermines national sovereignty and critical mineral control, departing from Chile's democratic principles, despite acknowledging drug-fighting benefits.
Cepal reports Latin America and the Caribbean account for one-third of global homicides despite having only eight percent of the world's population, with organized crime costing the region 3.4 percent of GDP, exacerbated by economic disruptions and limited youth opportunities.
Four UN Secretary-General candidates, including Argentine diplomat Rafael Grossi and former Chilean president Michelle Bachelet, expressed deep concerns during interviews about the organization's effectiveness amid geopolitical crises, ineffective governance, and declining global trust.
Former Chilean President Gabriel Boric challenged his nation's participation in Trump's Shield of the Americas initiative, asserting that longstanding international diplomatic consensus has fractured and Chile risks compromising its strategic autonomy and principles established since democratic restoration.
CEPAL and UNAM released a report identifying eight global ruptures, including multilateralism's deterioration and multipolar power consolidation, proposing Latin America leverage regional integration and sovereign resource management to navigate geopolitical instability and advance development.
Brazil's President Lula and Mexican Foreign Minister Velasco reaffirmed bilateral cooperation through the Binational Commission, establishing energy partnerships between Petrobras and Pemex, educational exchanges, and joint support for Michelle Bachelet's UN candidacy.
Four candidates vowed Wednesday to reform the troubled United Nations and restore its diminished global influence through cost-cutting and improved coordination, seeking to succeed Secretary-General Antonio Guterres next year.
Chilean President Boric addressed criticisms from Frei about the regional security proposal, emphasizing potential financial risks and military strategic considerations affecting broader hemispheric stability and economic cooperation.
Singapore Management University Professor David Chan was appointed to a World Bank-backed global expert panel of twenty-two international scholars to develop evidence-based skills and workforce training recommendations addressing artificial intelligence, demographic shifts, and economic changes to inform government policies on employment and poverty reduction.
Mexican President Sheinbaum and Brazilian President Lula ratified a bilateral cooperation and dialogue pact via telephone, emphasizing energy collaboration between Pemex and Petrobras while expressing shared concern over Cuba's humanitarian crisis.