The 2011 founding conference of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (AP)

The Brazilian Foreign Ministry confirmed on Friday that the country's government has decided to rejoin the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) after a three-year break.

In January 2020, former President Jair Bolsonaro’s administration suspended its participation in the CELAC, citing "no results in the defense of democracy in any field."

"Brazil announced today to the member countries of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (#CELAC) its decision to rejoin, fully and immediately, all political and technical entities of the mechanism," the Brazilian Ministry tweeted.

🇧🇷 announced today to the member countries of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (#CELAC) its decision to rejoin, fully and immediately, all political and technical entities of the mechanism. pic.twitter.com/fdyJ4DqDR7
— Itamaraty Brazil 🇧🇷 (@Itamaraty_EN) January 5, 2023

According to the Ministry, President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva would attend the 7th CELAC Summit in Buenos Aires on January 24 at the invitation of his Argentinian counterpart, Alberto Angel Fernandez.

The Brazilian Foreign Ministry pointed out that Brazil's decision to rejoin the CELAC was "an essential step" in restoring the country's diplomatic heritage and in "repositioning Brazil" on the international stage.

Brazilian Deputy Foreign Minister, Freddy Mamani, said the decision will be ratified by Lula during the VII Summit of Heads of State that will be held in Buenos Aires on January 24.

"This participation of the president of Brazil, Brazil’s return to Celac is very important, this announcement is fundamental for Latin America and the Caribbean and will strengthen the process of regional integration," Mamani highlighted during a press conference.

The CELAC was launched in December 2011 and is made up of 33 countries in Latin America and the Caribbean. Argentina currently holds CELAC's temporary presidency.

It is noteworthy that in April 2019, far-right Bolsonaro announced Brazil’s withdrawal from the Union of South American Nations (Unasur) and integrated Brazil into the Forum for the Progress of South America (Prosur), which was founded in March 2019 in Chile by right-wing governments.

After taking office in early January, Lula vowed to haul Brazil out of former President Jair Bolsonaro’s four-year era of "devastation" and barbarism, promising to lead Brazil into a new chapter of environmental protection, social progress, and a "rational democratic" government.