Science and Technology Are Essential to Defending Sovereignty: Foreign Secretary De la Fuente

• The Foreign Secretary participated today in the first assembly of the Latin American and Caribbean Space Agency (ALCE) in Querétaro, marking the formal launch of the Agency's operational phase.
• He said the project is a clear example of what Latin America and the Caribbean can achieve when acting with political will and unity, despite their natural differences.
• During the assembly, the member states adopted by consensus the legal framework governing the Agency and elected Mexico as President of the Assembly.

Research and technology are essential to protecting and defending our sovereignty. Without science, technology, and nationally developed projects, it would be difficult to envision how Latin American and Caribbean countries could strengthen their sovereignty over the medium and long term, Foreign Secretary De la Fuente said today.

At the first assembly of the Latin American and Caribbean Space Agency (ALCE) in Querétaro, which marks the formal launch of the agency's operational phase, Foreign Secretary De la Fuente said the project is a clear example of what Latin America and the Caribbean can accomplish when acting with political will and unity, despite their differences.

He underscored that engagement with space agencies from other regions will be a key component of this effort, strengthened through cooperation and strategic partnerships among governments, academia, and the private sector.

Foreign Secretary De la Fuente was accompanied by Querétaro Governor Mauricio Kuri, whom he thanked for supporting the establishment of the Agency. The Agency's General Secretariat will be headquartered at the National Center for Aeronautical Technologies. Foreign Secretary De la Fuente reaffirmed that Mexico remains fully committed to renewed multilateralism capable of addressing current and future needs through forward-looking projects that advance development and shared prosperity.

Addressing representatives of academia and the business community, as well as directors of space agencies from Spain, Korea, and other countries, Foreign Secretary De la Fuente said that in these complex times, innovative and meaningful models of cooperation are required-models that are creative and capable of moving beyond approaches that may have worked in other contexts but are now insufficient.

Foreign Secretary De la Fuente said the launch of this project reflects the commitment of President Sheinbaum's administration to technological development, scientific innovation, and strengthening the aerospace sector as a driver of progress and collective well-being.

He emphasized that space must serve the prosperity of peoples and cannot simply reproduce technological asymmetries or create increasing structural dependencies. "Space must have a social and inclusive purpose-one that delivers concrete benefits to our peoples," Foreign Secretary De la Fuente said.

The first assembly was held at the Government Palace of Querétaro, where member states adopted by consensus the foundational legal framework governing the Agency, elected Mexico as President of the Assembly, and appointed Óscar Freddy González Rivera as the first Secretary-General.

The Assembly included member states and other countries of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC), extra-regional space agencies, and representatives from the Ministries of Economy and of Science, Humanities, Technology, and Innovation, as well as the Agency for Digital Transformation and Telecommunications.

ALCE is an international organization representing a collective effort by the countries of Latin America and the Caribbean to promote the development of aerospace technology and capabilities in the region.

The Agency will strengthen regional capabilities and promote knowledge exchange to improve telecommunications and reduce technological gaps. This will result in tangible benefits in areas such as environmental and territorial monitoring, comprehensive disaster risk management, food security, and responses to phenomena that directly affect the region's economies and ecosystems.

ALCE is one of the outcomes of Mexico's pro tempore presidency of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) and will be headquartered in the state of Querétaro, one of the country's leading aerospace hubs.

President Sheinbaum's government reaffirms its commitment to science, innovation, and technology and, through the space sector, strengthens its determination to advance regional cooperation, knowledge exchange, talent development, and capacity-building, with a view to consolidating regional sovereignty in the aerospace field.

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