Caracas, March 28, 2025 – Eight key points aimed at strengthening the development of the region’s nations were approved this Friday during the First Meeting of Ministers and High-Level Authorities in Science and Technology of the Bolivarian Alliance for the Peoples of Our America – Peoples’ Trade Treaty (ALBA-TCP). The meeting, held in Venezuela, was part of the agreements reached at the bloc’s 12th Extraordinary Summit in February of this year.

The Executive Secretary of ALBA, Jorge Arreaza, presented the agreements, which are outlined as follows:

1. Establishment of the ALBA Center for Science, Technology, and Artificial Intelligence in the second half of 2025. This strategic initiative will be based in Venezuela and will serve as a hub for promoting scientific, technological, and socio-productive advancement among the Alliance’s member countries.
2. Conducting research activities across all branches of Artificial Intelligence (AI) to provide services and solutions that contribute to the productive, social, and economic sectors, with a focus on areas such as agriculture, health, education, energy, oil, environment, and culture.
3. Facilitating and implementing educational programs to train talent and build comprehensive capacities at all levels of education. This includes specialized courses and workshops on AI, Data Science, Machine Learning, and Deep Learning for both students and professionals.
4. Promoting innovation and the development of applied solutions based on Data Science and AI to enhance efficiency, optimize processes, and improve service quality in fields such as healthcare, public services, and food sovereignty.
5. Developing a joint AI computing infrastructure to provide an independent technological foundation for experimenting, evaluating, and deploying Machine Learning and Deep Learning models, as well as foundational models and large language models. This initiative will also include the creation of a human talent platform.
6. Supporting scientific and technological education through a scholarship program. The Venezuelan government has committed to granting 50 scholarships at the University of the Sciences in fields such as Microbiology, Biotechnology, Biochemistry, Ecology, Immunology, Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics, Anthropology, Medical Physics, Human Genetics, Nanotechnology, and Biodiversity, among others.
7. Enhancing cooperation in the training and specialization of human talent through technical and specialized training programs, scholarships, doctoral studies, and master’s degree programs. Additionally, Venezuela has pledged to manufacture diagnostic kits for diseases, in accordance with the needs submitted by ALBA member states through the Executive Secretariat.
8. Strengthening regional production capabilities through cooperation in biotechnology applied to agriculture and Earth observation. This effort will be supported by the technical cooperation of the Bolivarian Agency for Space Activities (ABAE in Spanish).

Caracas, March 28, 2025 – Venezuela is hosting this Friday the First Meeting of Ministers and High-level Authorities in the field of science and technology of the Bolivarian Alliance for the Peoples of Our America – Peoples’ Trade Treaty (ALBA-TCP). This gathering takes place as part of the agreements reached during the bloc’s 12th Extraordinary Summit held in February of this year.

The Executive Secretary of ALBA, Jorge Arreaza, warmly welcomed the ministers of science and technology, stating that ALBA is called upon, as emphasized by President Nicolás Maduro of Venezuela and President Miguel Díaz-Canel of Cuba, “to generate, with our own capabilities, the technological sovereignty that allows us to improve our lives through technology while protecting our people.”

Arreaza stressed that this meeting must serve to reaffirm the importance of science and technology in developing, with our own resources, research centers, tools, and scientific investigations that safeguard the people.

“We must protect our people from the dangers posed by these technologies, which today are in the hands of billionaires, multimillionaires, and power centers that threaten the minds, the spirit, and the social fabric of nations and peoples around the world. These centers, controlled from the West, aim to turn the world’s people into technological proletarians,” Arreaza warned.

On the other hand, Venezuela’s Minister of Science and Technology, Gabriela Jiménez, began her remarks by welcoming the heads of the science and technology departments of ALBA-TCP member states.

“Welcome to Bolívar’s House, brothers and sisters of our Bolivarian Alliance. Speaking about science today means discussing a contested domain; it means addressing the challenges of the fourth and fifth revolutions of knowledge, where technological hegemonies, capital, strategies of domination, and so-called globalization converge.”

She added, “Our peoples, our communities, our women, and our children deserve timely and purposeful science, scientific research conceived from within our own territories.” In her view, the goal is for these fields to foster an ethical and moral commitment “that ensures the men and women of the future for Latin America and the Caribbean.”

She emphasized that it is a challenge for ALBA to consider establishing a research and development center in the field of artificial intelligence (AI), particularly given that some of its member countries are subject to sanctions imposed by the imperialist hegemony of the United States.

“We must secure the future of well-being that our region deserves,” she concluded.

Caracas, March 25, 2025 – The lecture Global Geopolitics in the Second Term of Donald Trump, President of the United States, marked the conclusion of the training cycle organized by the Bolivarian Alliance for the Peoples of Our America–Peoples’ Trade Treaty (ALBA-TCP) in collaboration with the Bolivarian Military Academy of Venezuela.

Professor and strategic analyst Ricardo Chang delivered the keynote address, emphasizing that Trump is not a mere coincidence but rather the result of various historical moments, particularly the Cold War, spanning from World War II until 1991. “This period witnessed a struggle for hegemony between the United States and the Soviet Union (USSR),” he explained.

The academic elaborated that while this historical context lasted for several decades, a multipolar world eventually began to take shape. “With the collapse of the Soviet Union, the United States was left without rivals, ushering in an era of American unilateralism,” he noted.

Chang underscored that today, Russia has re-emerged as a major power, while China, since 2008, has asserted itself as an economic powerhouse. Nevertheless, Trump and the United States continue to focus their efforts on imposing their global dominance.

He also pointed out that Venezuela holds a privileged geopolitical position and possesses strategic natural resources. “The reason we have been targeted, the reason they attempted to overthrow President Hugo Chávez and President Nicolás Maduro, is their desire to control our resources,” he asserted.

The lecture placed global geopolitics during Trump’s second term within the framework of a multipolar world and a new phase of globalization. Furthermore, Chang explained, “China now seeks to lead the course of modernity—but not in an Anglo-Saxon or Western manner,” highlighting the emergence of new global powers such as the BRICS nations.

Chang stressed that the current geopolitical shifts have placed the United States in a state of tension and decline, fueling phenomena such as cyberattacks and neo-fascism.

Regarding Venezuela, Jhon Trujillo, a specialist in National Security, argued that the U.S. government has systematically imposed sanctions to harm the Venezuelan people. “These measures are intended to attack them,” he stated. He pointed to economic pressure, shortages (notably in early 2014), and efforts to force regime change through non-democratic means as key strategies employed by the United States against Venezuela.

Finally, Trujillo asserted that these sanctions have also been applied to other nations, such as Cuba and Nicaragua, precisely because they refuse to submit to U.S. interests. He concluded with a call to uphold and strengthen regional unity in response to these challenges.

Caracas, March 20, 2025. – The second session of the event “ALBA Has a Woman’s Name” opened this Thursday at Pdvsa La Estancia in Caracas, Venezuela, focusing on current challenges to gender equality.

Speaker Gisela Jiménez, a member of the United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV), highlighted the crucial role of women in the Bolivarian nation amid adversities such as the blockade and coercive measures imposed by the United States.

She emphasized that the women’s movement in Venezuela is democratic and advocates for a grassroots feminism that includes everyone. “We must see ourselves as equals (…). We need laws that mandate political parity, and this must be enforced (…),” she stated, while calling for the unity of women across Latin America and the Caribbean to fight against fascism and misogyny and establish the Women’s Chapter of the Anti-Fascist International.

Mental Health

Meanwhile, Isis Ochoa, president of the Foundation for the Growth and Development of the Population (Fundacredesa), addressed gender-based violence and policies on care and mental health.

Ochoa warned that the patriarchal system is inherently violent and negatively impacts women’s mental health, especially within a capitalist framework that “makes us recipients of violence (…). We must approach mental health through a systemic lens.”

She noted that the care economy is an emerging topic in the Global South, highlighting the need to redefine gender roles in household responsibilities.

According to Ochoa, women must recognize their emotions, identify their feelings, and become literate in mental health issues to drive a collective struggle capable of transforming the system’s violent outlook.

Feminist Action and Workplace Equality

Isbemar Jiménez, Deputy Minister for Communicational Management at Mippci, stressed that women’s mobilization in today’s geopolitical landscape is a priority. “Women’s role is not decorative. Historically, we had two roles: wielding arms and controlling information,” she stated.

The deputy minister called for the creation of a liberating narrative to support the feminist struggle in Venezuela and the region. “We must recognize and continue our historical fight.”

Finally, Maigualida Vargas, president of the Nevado Mission, asserted that economic emancipation allows women to reach their full potential. In this regard, she defended workplace equality and female leadership throughout the region.

Caracas, March 20, 2025. – “ALBA Has a Woman’s Name”, an event held this Thursday at Pdvsa La Estancia in Caracas, Venezuela, provided a platform to strengthen women’s unity as the very core of humanity.

“The goal of women is to liberate the working class, but to achieve that, the system must change, and women are the fundamental force for transforming what capitalism has established,” stated Jorge Arreaza, Executive Secretary of the Bolivarian Alliance for the Peoples of Our America – Peoples’ Trade Treaty (ALBA-TCP), as he inaugurated the event.

Arreaza emphasized that gender equality has always been a fundamental principle for the Alliance. He noted that, at present, key global decisions are being made by men such as Donald Trump, Elon Musk, and Marco Rubio. “It is men who have decided on something as atrocious as the abduction of Venezuelans in El Salvador,” he said.

He firmly stated, “I am certain that if women governed this world, something like that (deportations without respect for human rights) would never have happened, nor would the bombing of Gaza. To me, women surpass men in humanity, particularly in their defense of life and family; they are unique.”

Women: A cross-cutting theme in ALBA

Germania Fernández, ALBA’s Director General for Communicational Management, underscored the Alliance’s commitment to strengthening women’s participation. “We consider the issue of women to be cross-cutting, and we want to reinforce it through this event. Women have always played a crucial role in all struggles, but there is still work to be done. We must weave networks to build processes of change. The spirit of unity in ALBA is sustained by the spirit of unity among women. Our unity is essential to achieving change—women’s struggles are inspiring.”

Fernández noted that the regional bloc would work to strengthen ties with Venezuela’s Ministry of Women and Gender Equality, as well as with institutions in ALBA member countries.

The role of women in today’s politics

The first presentation, led by Venezuela’s Minister of Women and Gender Equality, Jhoana Carrillo, highlighted women’s long-standing role in global struggles.

She recalled that in Venezuela, women began to be recognized as active leaders with the arrival of President Hugo Chávez. “He knew that women had to be empowered and placed at the forefront,” she added.

The Venezuelan minister stressed that ALBA should review legal frameworks to better support and emancipate women. She asserted that women’s leadership is not declared; it is built daily.

Furthermore, she revealed that in Venezuela, over 60% of the country’s scientific projects are led by women, and women make up 60% of university students.

Communication, Social Media, and Feminist Activism

Brazilian feminist activist Bianca Pessoa delivered a presentation via videoconference titled “Communication, Social Media, and Feminist Activism”, emphasizing the role of communication in strengthening women’s leadership.

She highlighted that publishing and amplifying grassroots struggles is a collective process, stating, “Women’s communication is rooted in our politics. The women’s struggle is both popular and anti-capitalist. Our communication movement is not just a task for specialists—it must be organic and collective. Feminist communication cannot be limited to the internet.”

Pessoa explained that women’s political struggle involves using social media, “which is controlled by the far right.” She urged careful consideration of how digital platforms are used. “We must focus on the grassroots struggle and define the language we use,” she said.

For Pessoa, digital platforms serve as a tool to showcase women’s power in the streets. She encouraged gathering as much data as possible to spread the feminist struggle and counter capitalist algorithms. “We must ensure that information reaches all women beyond social media and define what and how we communicate,” she concluded.

“ALBA Has a Woman’s Name” is an event held in Venezuela to honor the strength, courage, and essence of every woman who has fought and continues to fight for her dreams, her freedom, and her voice.

Havana, March 19, 2025 – The Bolivarian Alliance for the Peoples of Our America-Peoples’ Trade Treaty (ALBA-TCP) took part this Wednesday in the 4th Patria International Colloquium, held at the University of Havana, Cuba, with the presentation ‘Political Challenges of Artificial Intelligence for the Global South.’

Henry Contreras, head of the Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Communication department at ALBA-TCP, highlighted the historical dependence on telecommunications in both Cuba and Venezuela. He referenced the installation of Cuba’s telegraphic platform by England in the last century and the laying and operation of the French cable in Venezuela—both foreign-controlled platforms that demonstrated the potential for exerting political control over a nation.

“The control of platforms promotes political control. These are cases that we must analyze in our countries as part of the Global South. With the ALBA-1 submarine cable—the first to reach Cuba, overcoming the blockade—we achieved connectivity, but today, we face new challenges,” he explained.

He emphasized the need for unity among Latin America and the Caribbean. “We must consolidate ourselves as the Global South to address the challenges posed by modern communication tools.”

Contreras also stressed that beneath artificial intelligence lies data usage, accessibility, and information interconnection. “What underpins AI is data, aiming to advance a new form of knowledge generation,” he explained, urging a reconsideration of AI’s use for the benefit of the people.

He underscored that the challenge for ALBA-TCP and the region is to create a platform for development, training, and communication that enables the unification of alternative strategies, yielding results that cater to the needs of the people.

He also addressed strategies for optimizing content within search engines. “We must be present in search engines, we must produce and categorize our information—not only to reach search engines but now to influence AI-generated datasets.”

AI, he explained, is a reality that must be considered within the region’s struggles. “AI, like technology, is not neutral; it imposes censorship, blocking certain content. This is a political struggle that presents a challenge for future generations,” he added.

Technology and AI must serve the people, fostering societal development and national growth. “Our collective challenge is to move beyond being mere consumers of technology and start creating new platforms,” stated Henry Contreras.

Global South alliances play a crucial role in promoting open-source technologies “that can be adapted to our needs and contexts (…). These must also be accessible to everyone,” he concluded.

This session also featured presentations by Araceli Acosta from Argentina; Javier Toret from Spain; Rob Lucas from the United Kingdom; Artem Chibarov from Russia; and Javier Blanco from Argentina.

Caracas, March 19, 2025 – “The world cannot remain unipolar; it must become multipolar. That is why a new social order is necessary,” stated international analyst Sergio Rodríguez Gelfenstein this Tuesday during the discussion series organized by the Bolivarian Alliance for the Peoples of Our America–Peoples’ Trade Treaty (ALBA-TCP) at the Bolivarian Military Academy of Venezuela.

During his presentation, he asserted that capitalism is in crisis and that the global issue at stake is the survival of the United States. “It may seem that they enjoy a high standard of living, but that is no longer the case. Things have changed because they imposed the dollar and printed it themselves, but now they lack backing since their economy has been devastated and they no longer have competition.”

The specialist stressed that the situation in the United States is so dire that “they are engaging in talks with [Vladimir] Putin (President of Russia), the world’s leading nuclear power.”

Rodríguez Gelfenstein noted that U.S. President Donald Trump is aware that the country’s economic indicators are in the red and “believes that the war in Ukraine is causing losses, which is why he is now engaging in dialogue with Russia.”

He warned that the crisis in the United States should not be a cause for celebration, as it behaves like a wounded beast, making “its blows target the closest regions, such as Latin America and the Caribbean.”

For the international analyst, it is crucial for the world to understand that multipolarity and unity serve as a shield against U.S. hegemony.

Furthermore, he explained that a number of organizations and alliances in Asia and Europe have shifted the global strategic and geopolitical axis, “changing everything because the United States is not involved—something that has not happened in the last five centuries.”

He affirmed that the axis of global politics is shifting from the Atlantic to the Eurasian East. He added that the alliance between China and Russia poses a threat to the United States, which is why the war in Ukraine is taking place.

He insisted that multipolarity must prevail, along with cooperation among nations to safeguard them from imperialist attacks.