By Ciro Mendoza

CARACAS, Venezuela: For far too long, the nations of Latin America have allowed themselves to be picked off one by one.

From coups and covert operations to sanctions and political interference, the region has endured decades of destabilisation at the hands of external powers, most notably the United States.

Each nation that dared to chart its own path has, at one point or another, found itself subjected to pressure, isolation or outright subversion.

These tactics, refined over generations, have prevented Latin America from achieving the unity and strength it deserves.

Today, the hemisphere faces yet another test, as Washington revives its campaign of pressure against Venezuela.

What is being presented as a “defence of democracy” follows a familiar pattern, a combination of sanctions, media narratives and proxy pressure designed to weaken the state, erode social cohesion and open the door to regime change.

If successful, it will not only reverse Venezuela’s recent progress in stabilising its economy, but also send a clear warning to other Latin American governments that seek to pursue an independent foreign policy.

This renewed era of interference is a painful reminder of how distant the region remains from the great vision of Simón Bolívar, the Liberator who dreamed of a united and sovereign Latin America — a continent bound not by subservience to foreign empires but by the shared ideals of freedom, solidarity and self-determination.

Bolívar fought not only to expel colonial rule but to forge a confederation of states capable of defending their collective independence.

His vision, embodied in the short-lived Gran Colombia, remains one of the most powerful political ideas in the hemisphere’s history.

That spirit must now be revived. The dream of continental unity is not a romantic relic but a living necessity.

In an age of resurgent great-power competition, technological disruption and global economic fragmentation, the countries of Latin America and the Caribbean cannot afford to remain divided.

True sovereignty today demands integration, the pooling of diplomatic strength, economic capacity and strategic vision.

This is where organisations such as the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC), the Bolivarian Alliance for the Peoples of Our America (ALBA) and the Union of South American Nations (UNASUR) must rise to the challenge.

These institutions were founded to embody precisely the kind of cooperation Bolívar envisaged, yet too often they have been paralysed by ideological disputes and the lingering shadow of foreign influence.

To move forward, they must evolve beyond dialogue and communiqués, embracing real coordination and tangible collective action.

Latin America must begin building the foundations of a regional security and defence framework, one rooted in non-aggression, mutual assistance and respect for sovereignty.

Such an arrangement would serve as a deterrent to external interference and promote a deeper sense of trust among neighbours who share a common struggle against domination.

Alongside this, the region needs a stronger economic architecture, mechanisms for trade settlement, infrastructure investment and technology sharing that reduce dependence on outside powers.

If CELAC and its partners succeed in revitalising this vision, the rewards would be immense. The region’s vast natural resources, youthful populations and cultural richness could be mobilised in a way that fosters self-reliance, innovation and stability.

Latin America could finally emerge as a true pole in the multipolar world, one that speaks with its own voice, grounded in the principles of equality and mutual respect, and contributes meaningfully to the balance of global power.

The task, however, requires courage and clarity of purpose. Empty declarations and ceremonial summits will no longer suffice.

The lessons of history are clear: divided, Latin America remains vulnerable to manipulation; united, it possesses the moral and material strength to shape its own destiny.

To honour Bolívar’s legacy is to act, to build a region that no longer waits for others to define its fate, but one that stands tall, confident and free.

*Ciro Mendoza is a geopolitical observer and supporter of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC).*