Cuba reaffirms its unwavering commitment to unity, solidarity, and cooperation as fundamental pillars for addressing common challenges and advancing toward sustainable and inclusive development, in accordance with the principles of social justice, sovereignty, and respect for the self-determination of peoples. Reflecting on the comparative advantages of the Greater Caribbean in addressing priority areas such as sargassum management, mangrove restoration, cultural heritage tourism, and short-sea shipping, we emphasize that we are a quintessential archipelagic and coastal region, united by the Caribbean Sea, and therefore its preservation is fundamental to our very existence and development. It is this will that can transform common challenges, such as the effects of climate change or economic asymmetries, into opportunities for genuine collaboration that prioritizes human development and resilience.
In this endeavor, it is essential to begin with a cardinal principle that we have built together as a region: the Proclamation of Latin America and the Caribbean as a Zone of Peace, signed in Havana in 2014. This means that our differences are resolved through dialogue and respect for international law; that we renounce the threat or use of force; that we commit to fostering friendly relations and cooperation based on sovereign equality and respect for the territorial integrity of states. Only in an environment of peace and stability can the cooperation, economic integration, and shared development projects we aspire to flourish.
Cuba reiterates its willingness to share some of the experiences and capabilities that our people have developed, despite the difficult conditions the country is facing due to the unprecedented intensification of the economic, commercial, and financial blockade imposed by the United States and the threat of aggression from the Trump administration against Cuba. My country, in the spirit of South-South cooperation, offers its Caribbean brothers and sisters, through our institutions, knowledge in areas critical to regional development.
Our model of scientific hubs and collaboration between academia and the productive sectors can serve as a reference for designing solutions to common problems. The experience accumulated by Cuban Civil Defense in protecting human lives and property from cyclones and floods is knowledge that we have shared and will continue to share.
Although we continue to learn and refine our model, we have worked on approaches that seek to integrate the cultural, historical, and natural dimensions, promoting tourism that generates local production chains and respects the authenticity of our communities. We are open to the exchange of best practices in this area. Cuba trusts in the collective wisdom of this forum to identify those initiatives where joint action multiplies national efforts. We believe the criteria should be: the immediate impact on the quality of life of our people, the contribution to climate resilience, and the strengthening of connectivity and regional sovereignty.
Cuba comes to this table with no agenda other than respectful dialogue, loyal collaboration, and the firm belief that a united, prosperous, and sustainable Caribbean is not only possible, but necessary.
Every project presented at this 10th International Cooperation Conference must align with a guiding principle: that regional cooperation must serve, first and foremost, to strengthen the endogenous capacities of each member state, respect their national priorities, and reduce development gaps. Every initiative must have a clear component of technology transfer, training, and local development.
Cuba is confident that, based on the principles of solidarity and complementarity, we can define a fair regional agenda with the participation of all. An agenda that places science, cooperation, and the well-being of our peoples at its core.
Thank you very much.