News

12 June 2025

ACS Secretary-General Noemí Espinoza Madrid delivered an inspiring keynote address at the “The Present and the Future of Brazil-Caribbean Relations” conference during the Brazil-Caribbean Summit at the Institute of Applied Economic Research (IPEA) in Brazil. Her speech, titled "The Strategic Role of the Caribbean Sea in the Global Scenario," highlighted the vital importance of the Caribbean Sea in fostering regional and global sustainability, security, and cooperation.

Secretary-General Espinoza Madrid emphasized the Caribbean Sea as a critical geostrategic asset, essential for environmental sustainability and hemispheric stability The Sea hosts vast marine biodiversity, including a significant concentration of coral reefs, mangroves, and seagrasses that play crucial roles in carbon capture and ecological resilience.

She underscored the significant role of the Caribbean in positioning itself as a central hub for global trade routes, especially through the strategic Panama Canal. This maritime network boosts regional economies and interconnects continents, reiterating the Caribbean’s importance in global trade and logistics.

Secretary-General Espinoza Madrid also highlighted the potential of a stronger Brazil-Caribbean partnership in addressing common challenges like climate change, food security, and sustainable energy. She stressed the importance of building alliances for technological innovation, infrastructure development, and cultural diplomacy, leveraging the shared histories and aspirations of the Latin-Caribbean region.

The Secretary-General called for a collaborative effort to strengthen maritime governance, encourage sustainable economic practices, and foster South-South cooperation. She also highlighted the shared history between Brazil and the Greater Caribbean, which reinforces their common cultural identity.

She concluded her intervention inviting Brazil and the IPEA to join forces with the ACS in to consolidate a regional agenda for structural transformation with environmental justice, gender equality, economic dignity and collective sovereignty.