Central America

Emir of Qatar meets with President Nayib Bukele

September 13 |

On Wednesday, September 13, the Emir of Qatar, Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, held a meeting with President Nayib Bukele at Casa Presidencial. During the visit of His Royal Highness to El Salvador, bilateral issues will be discussed in order to strengthen relations between the two countries.

Emir Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani arrived at the International Airport of El Salvador last Tuesday, and was received by an official delegation among which was the Vice President of the Republic Felix Ulloa.

“Welcome to our home”, wrote the Salvadoran president in his account on the social network X. The meeting, between the emir and President Bukele was held to discuss ways to promote bilateral relations and the possibilities of cooperation in various areas for the development of El Salvador.

They will also sign agreements and memorandums of understanding in different fields of cooperation, and will address different regional and international issues of common interest for both countries.

A few months ago, President Bukele’s government sent the Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs, Adriana Mira, to Qatar, to begin exploring the possibilities of mutual support. This working tour also strengthened the bond of friendship that unites both cultures.

On that occasion, Mira met with the executive director of the Qatar Investment Authority (QIA), Mansoor Ebrahim Al-Mahmoud, to discuss logistics infrastructure and transportation of people and goods.

The Pacific Train and Airport were of interest to QIA and a working visit was agreed upon. In addition, the CEO of Qatar Airways, Akbar Al Bakeuna, expressed to Mira the interest in establishing a cargo and passenger route. Trade and food investment are other approaches that Salvadoran authorities have explored with their Qatari partners.

Central America

Mexico’s president proposes regional economic summit at CELAC

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum held bilateral meetings on Wednesday with the presidents of Uruguay (Yamandú Orsi), Guatemala (Bernardo Arévalo), Brazil (Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva), and Colombia (Gustavo Petro) ahead of her participation in the IX Summit of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) in Honduras.

“Before the CELAC Summit, we met with the presidents of Uruguay, Guatemala, Brazil, and Colombia. We are sister nations that share a progressive vision,” Sheinbaum posted on social media.

During the meetings, Sheinbaum called for a Summit on Latin America’s Economic Wellbeing, in response to the ongoing U.S. tariff war. She stressed the urgent need for unity and solidarity among Latin American and Caribbean governments and peoples to deepen regional integration.

Amid the new round of tariffs imposed by U.S. President Donald Trump, Sheinbaum reiterated her belief that the economic integration Mexico has with North America should be extended to the entire continent.

Central America

Colombia to host fourth EU-CELAC Summit in November

The Fourth Summit between the European Union (EU) and the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) will take place on November 9 and 10 in Santa Marta, Colombia, according to a joint statement released Wednesday by the Colombian government and the European Council.

The summit will be co-chaired by Colombian President Gustavo Petro, in his role as pro tempore president of CELAC, and European Council President António Costa, the statement added.

The last EU-CELAC summit took place in July 2023 in Brussels, when both blocs agreed to hold these meetings every two years.

The summit brings together the 27 EU member states and the 33 CELAC countries, representing 14% of the global population, 21% of global GDP, and one-third of the members of the United Nations, the communiqué noted.

Central America

CELAC condemns unilateral sanctions in ‘Tegucigalpa Declaration’

The Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) formally rejected on Wednesday the “imposition of unilateral coercive measures that violate International Law, including those that restrict international trade.”

This position was expressed in the “Tegucigalpa Declaration,” which was “adopted by sufficient consensus among 30 member states” out of the 33 countries that make up the regional organization.

According to Honduran Foreign Minister Eduardo Enrique Reina, there was “sufficient consensus among 30 states” to adopt the declaration, with three countries distancing themselves from the resolution.

“Argentina, Paraguay, and Nicaragua decided not to adopt the declaration for their own reasons,” Reina explained.