Regional cooperation among Ibero-American countries has experienced a decline since the onset of the pandemic. From 2007 to 2023, more than half of these countries have exceeded 1,000 initiatives, with Mexico and Colombia each standing out with 2,000 initiatives. According to the report presented, the 22 members of the Ibero-American community have partnered at different times with 135 countries from other regions of the Global South, 37 countries from the North, and 81 multilateral organizations.
During the presentation of the report, Chancellor Sommerfeld highlighted that this report has become a reference for showcasing Ibero-American cooperation globally, representing the commitment of countries to overcome existing gaps. For his part, Allamand mentioned that this document reflects the best of the region, emphasizing the importance of this form of cooperation that is admired by many.
In the context of the XXIX Ibero-American Summit of Heads of State and Government in Cuenca (Ecuador), the fifteenth edition of the South-South and Triangular Cooperation Report in Ibero-America was presented. In 2023, 914 initiatives were launched, a 10% increase compared to the previous year, although still below pre-pandemic figures.
It is noted that bilateral cooperation remains dominant, representing 76.6% of exchanges, while triangular and regional cooperation account for 14.8% and 8.6%, respectively. Projects in sectors such as health and agriculture are the most numerous, while issues like the environment, disaster management, security, and defense have a lesser presence.
Countries highlighted for their participation in initiatives include Chile, Argentina, Peru, Cuba, Brazil, El Salvador, Ecuador, Guatemala, Costa Rica, and Uruguay. However, the scarcity of projects related to science, technology, and innovation is noted, as well as the low investment in issues linked to indigenous peoples. Only 3% of projects focus on future-related topics, prompting a call for greater attention to these sectors to enhance cooperation in the region.
