Imperialist forces aim to upend LatAm unity, Venezuela warns

Right-wing imperialist forces aim to rollback democratic and social progress in Latin America by undoing regional integration, Venezuela warned Monday.

At a day-long session of member states of the Bolivarian Alliance for the Peoples of Our America (ALBA), a regional integration bloc spearheaded by Venezuela's socialist government, one of the country's top officials said unity was Latin America's strongest weapon against the threat.

"New imperialist plans hover over our countries, over our governments, over our peoples and we know that ... only by staying united will we be able to withstand ... these imperialist powers," Venezuelan Foreign Affairs Minister Delcy Rodriguez told her counterparts from 11 nations.

ALBA's Political Council is set to study the so-called soft coup attempts that have provoked unrest in Venezuela, Bolivia and most recently Ecuador in an attempt to overthrow their democratically-elected governments. All three countries are currently home to the region's most progressive governments.

Rodriguez expressed the group's solidarity with the government of Ecuadorian President Rafael Correa, whose administration suddenly became the target of anti-government protests this year organized by conservative political factions.

The Venezuelan foreign minister also congratulated Cuba on the reestablishment of diplomatic ties with the United States, calling it a victory for Cubans.

"This renewal of ties between Havana and Washington is an act of justice and an achievement of the Cuban people, who for 50 years withstood attacks by the United States to overthrow the revolution," she said.

ALBA is composed of Venezuela, Cuba, Bolivia, Nicaragua, Dominica, Antigua and Barbuda, Ecuador, Grenada, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Saint Lucia, and Saint Kitts and Nevis.

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro was expected to close the session later in the day. Endite