Rene Gonzalez, director of the Fidel Castro Ruz Center for Cuban Studies, who is a speaker at the event running until October 3 at St. Petersburg State University, told Prensa Latina that Latin America is a forum for cooperation for Russia.

Gonzalez emphasized, “Russia sees the Latin American region constructively and with solidarity within its geopolitical worldview. For Russia, Latin America is not a territory of influence or domination as it is for the United States; it is a zone of collaboration, and this has been demonstrated throughout the existence of the former Soviet Union up to the present.”

The historian argued that, through the holding of initiatives such as the Forum, where paths to achieving sustainable development of the nations are debated without imposing rules and methods, “Latin Americanists should thank the Russians for their constant concern for our continent.”

Fernando Carrera, the Guatemalan founder of the Adelante Center for Spanish Language and Culture, described the meeting as a beacon of light that guides, provides reference, and allows us to direct information, in addition to better locating Russia, Latin America, and the Caribbean in the global context.

He concluded, “Finding that point that links and unites us concretely is essential to find more points of interest and correlation to build those bridges for dialogue.”

The 7th International Forum “Russia and Ibero-America in a Turbulent World,” attended by more than 900 representatives from 26 nations, seeks to continue the tradition of congresses and meetings on Latin American, Spanish, and Portuguese studies, held in St. Petersburg every two years since 2003, and dedicated primarily to the mechanisms and challenges of the formation of a new world order.

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