February 3, 2025 – The 12th Extraordinary Summit of the Bolivarian Alliance for the Peoples of Our America – Peoples’ Trade Treaty (ALBA-TCP) began this Monday in Caracas, Venezuela.

The President of Venezuela, Nicolás Maduro, opened the meeting via videoconference, emphasizing: “First and foremost, we must address the issue of migration, the human right of migrant peoples (…) We must coordinate efforts to demand respect for migrants from our nations, ensuring their human rights and guaranteeing their dignified return to our countries.”

Accompanied by the Executive Secretary of the regional bloc, Jorge Arreaza; the Sectoral Vice President for Communication, Freddy Ñáñez; the Deputy Minister for Latin America of the Venezuelan Foreign Ministry, Rander Peña; and the President of the ALBA Bank and Deputy Minister for the Caribbean, Raúl Li Causi, the Head of State underscored that the Alliance must coordinate actions to ensure the respect of human rights and the dignity of migrant populations.

“We must focus on an issue that has been brought to the forefront in recent weeks and will continue to be: the coordination to demand respect for the migrants of our nations, their human rights, their labor rights, and, where applicable, to ensure their dignified return to our countries, where they can reintegrate and become productive citizens in each of our nations,” Maduro stressed.

The Venezuelan President also introduced for discussion the need to dismantle criminal organizations engaged in human trafficking, particularly intensifying the fight against so-called coyotes (individuals who illegally facilitate the movement of people across borders).

In this regard, he pointed out that these groups, linked to the far right, charge Venezuelan migrants between $3,000 and $10,000 to take them to the United States.

Additionally, he proposed the creation of a fund within the ALBA Bank to support migrants from ALBA member countries. This initiative consists of a credit system aimed at facilitating the productive reintegration of migrant entrepreneurs, with an initial proposed capital of $10 million.

Maduro also emphasized that the Bolivarian Alliance must champion the revitalization of CELAC (Community of Latin American and Caribbean States), “as well as the defense of peace in the region.”

In his view, ALBA-TCP is called upon to consolidate peace through justice, truth, growth, and development.

“ALBA is a world champion of peace and a bold defender of our sovereignty. A proposal is being considered to convene a Political Council of ALBA in one of the capital cities, where foreign ministers can address these matters,” he stated.

He also reaffirmed the need to consolidate AgroALBA.

The Venezuelan leader highlighted that the Alliance has a highly relevant agenda and noted that the regional bloc has successfully updated its work plan. “We have an obligation to ensure that the ALBA agenda accelerates responses and solutions for our peoples, addressing economic, productive, social, cultural, and educational development, as well as social rights, health, life, and peace,” he added.

“A joint intra-ALBA effort is proposed to advance in artificial intelligence, ensuring its safe and sovereign use (…) We propose the immediate establishment of an ALBA Center for Science and Technology focused on artificial intelligence and free technologies, developed collaboratively,” the President stated.

Finally, he called for the consolidation of AgroALBA and for further progress on the proposal to create an ALBA fishing fleet, as well as a transportation plan for acquiring ships and aircraft to establish independent means for product distribution.