CELAC: Lula backs integration, sovereign use of critical minerals
President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva argued that Latin American and Caribbean countries should have access to all stages of the value chain for critical minerals found in the region. According to him, these resources can help countries “rewrite history” by using their own wealth to promote domestic development, rather than enriching other nations.
At the 10th Summit of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) in Bogotá, Lula’s statement was read on Saturday (Mar. 21) by Brazilian Foreign Minister Mauro Vieira due to scheduling issues.
“We have the opportunity to rewrite the region’s history without repeating the mistake of allowing other parts of the world to enrich themselves at our expense. The adoption of a regional framework, with common minimum standards, would increase our bargaining power with investors,” the president said.
Lula noted that Latin America holds the world’s second-largest reserves of critical minerals and rare earths, and that these materials are essential for manufacturing chips, batteries, and solar panels - key components of the digital revolution and the energy transition.
In this regard, he advocated for countries in the region to participate in all stages of the value chain for these minerals, from extraction to the final product, including processing and recycling.
Regional integration
Lula also highlighted the importance of strengthening regional integration, which he said is essential in the current context of political and geopolitical instability. He added that weakening coordination among countries in the region increases vulnerability to external pressures and limits the ability to respond to common challenges.
“Latin America and the Caribbean do not belong in anyone’s backyard,” Lula stated in his speech read by the foreign minister.
“When we stand together, we are better able to weather the turbulence of the global economy and geopolitics. CELAC represents the greatest effort ever made to assert the distinct identity of Latin America and the Caribbean on the international stage,” he added.
The president also called for expanding intraregional trade, integrating production chains, and strengthening blocs such as Mercosur, stating that regional integration is a tool to enhance the sovereignty and development of countries in the region.
Dialogue with other countries
Discussing Colombia’s current presidency of CELAC, Lula emphasized the importance of maintaining dialogue with China, the European Union, and Africa. “These countries and blocs see in Latin America and the Caribbean a potential that we ourselves fail to recognize and harness. It is a paradox that a region with so many resources still suffers from so many ills,” he stressed.
“We are powerhouses in energy, biodiversity, and agriculture. Yet what predominates in this part of the world are deeply unequal and technologically dependent societies. What we lack to break this cycle of underdevelopment is political leadership,” the president added.
Infrastructure
Lula also urged the integration of regional infrastructure. “We need land, water, and air routes from the Atlantic to the Pacific, through which goods can circulate and citizens can travel,” he stated.
He emphasized the need to interconnect the power grids of countries in the region, which, according to him, will ensure a reliable energy supply and reduce costs.
“In a world marked by maritime blockades and disruptions in the supply of raw materials, this integration is even more important,” he added.
Organized crime
In a speech read by Mauro Vieira, Lula emphasized that a fragmented region fosters organized crime, further underscoring the need for collaboration among Latin American and Caribbean countries to target the entire chain of command of criminal organizations, particularly at the highest levels.
“This problem is not just Latin American; it is global. It is essential to curb fraud, the flow of weapons from wealthy countries, combat money laundering carried out in tax havens, and regulate the use of cryptocurrencies. Isolated actions yield only temporary results. Only by strengthening our institutions can we ensure lasting solutions,” he said.
According to Lula, the Anti-Gang Bill, a Brazilian government initiative to combat criminal organizations, aims to streamline and improve the efficiency of investigations, cut off gang financing, and strengthen mechanisms for holding highly violent groups accountable.
“Our goal is to improve coordination among police forces and strengthen the role of the Federal Police in combating criminal organizations and private militias operating across state lines and internationally,” the president concluded.
