Gadhafi and Chavez for an Africa — South America Alliance

The second ever Africa-South America Summit (ASA) was held September 26th and 27th on the island of Margarita in Venezuela. At this summit, Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi made a call for a defense alliance between the two continents similar to NATO. "We have to form a NATO for the south," the Associated Press quotes Gadhafi. "And that's not a terrorist action. We have a right." This call was an echo from Venezuelan President Chavez, who has previously championed the idea. Gadhafi went on to say that the regional powers should have more authority in their development and not be subordinate to NATO or the U.N. Security Council.

Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva agreed with Colonel Gadhafi that the U.N. Security Council has lost its relevance. Claiming that over a billion inhabitants of South America and Africa demanded their voices be heard and that a militaristic pact between the two "Souths" will give them the necessary position for that. "There is no global challenge that cannot be faced jointly Africa and South America," Silva said.

"In the 21st century, the African Union and South America will be truly great powers,”  President Chavez said to the nearly 30 leaders in attendance. A South America development bank which seven South American leaders was ratified, with $20 billion in start-up, and Chavez promised a similar South-South bank with Africa in the future.

Chavez stated that poverty had been created by the “empires of the North; empires of Europe; and the U.S. empire,” and that socialism would lead to the world’s salvation. Gadhafi claimed that colonialism had stolen the riches of Africa and that Western countries wished to retain their power. “When they had the chance to help us, they treated us like animals, destroyed our land.” Gadhafi said. “Now we have to fight to build our own power “

Other issues tackled by the ASA included poverty, development, energy, and the global economic crisis. It is expected that the crisis in Honduras will also be addressed as the bilateral talks of South American leaders continue.

Other ASA leaders in attendance included: Argentina's President Cristina Fernandez, Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe, Algeria's Abdelaziz Bouteflika, Bolivia's Evo Morales, and Chile's Michelle Bachelet.

Article Author: Tim Rainey

Tim Rainey is a struggling screenwriter and part time blogger. He's known to rant and rave his opinions but is very strict on himself when it comes to expressing the truth. He can currently only be found on Blogcritics.

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