ALBA said in a statement that the decision would undermine peaceful coexistence agreements in the area, and defined similar centers in the United States as powerful and perverse tools to promote foreign interference, the exploitation of natural resources and the control of governments wherever they reside.

“Latin America and the Caribbean has been proclaimed a Region of Peace and the countries of the Alliance firmly support that commitment. The Bolivarian Alliance has repeatedly denounced the simulated use of the fight against drug trafficking and transnational organized crime as a pretext to open the way for interference in the internal affairs of States,” it indicated.

ALBA-TCP expressed its hope that the people of Ecuador will preserve their sovereignty and independence, safeguard the peace and security of Latin America and the Caribbean, as well as foster relations of friendship and cooperation between the countries of the region and with the rest of the world.

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