The Rebellious Heart of the Americas: A Diary of the Event in Rome, November 28, 2025

This Friday marked the conclusion of one of the most significant events I have had the privilege to participate in. The LeggereNienteMale Festival offered the perfect opportunity to present my book The Legacy of Simón Bolívar: The Rebellious Heart of Latin America, and I felt the weight of history as we gathered with diplomats, intellectuals, and activists to discuss the future of the Patria Grande and the new geopolitical challenges threatening the sovereignty of Latin American peoples. The event took place at the Centro E. Nathan in Rome, a venue that became the beating heart of a gathering that challenged both our past and, most importantly, the future of our continent and its struggles.

The energy in the air was palpable—hopeful yet deeply concerned—as the voices of Latin American diplomats echoed throughout the room. I couldn't help but reflect on how Simón Bolívar, the great Liberator, remains a central figure in the discussions surrounding our present. As I wrote in my book, Bolívar is not just a hero of the past; he is a guide, whose vision still leads us today.

A Passionate Opening

The debate began with speeches from two prominent Latin American diplomats, who, like everyone present, emphasized the importance of continuing to promote Bolívar’s ideal of Continentalism, a vision he conceived to unite Latin American countries against colonial and imperialist powers. This ideal, born in the 19th century, is still deeply relevant today, as history has taught us that when the region is divided, it becomes vulnerable to external attacks.

I particularly remember when Ambassador Teresa Subieta Serrano of Bolivia highlighted the strong connection between Bolívar's vision and the defense of social rights. Her words resonated deeply with me, especially when she spoke of the current threats to feminist and indigenous struggles in Latin America, increasingly under siege by extractivist policies and right-wing governments rising to power across the continent.

I couldn't help but think of the recent political developments in countries like Brazil, where the fight against the environment and indigenous rights has become central with the rise of radical right-wing politics. But we must also acknowledge the victories, like the feminist movement in Argentina, which, through extraordinary determination, succeeded in legalizing abortion. This is a powerful signal that the fight for civil rights in Latin America, despite countless challenges, is unyielding.

History Becoming the Future: The Carta de Jamaica

The pivotal moment for me came when I took the stage to discuss the Carta de Jamaica, the document Bolívar wrote in exile in 1815, which marked a turning point in his thinking. The Carta was not merely a plea for help—it was Bolívar's profound denunciation of colonial brutality and a roadmap for the future of Latin America, one that foresaw the difficulties his cause would face. It is a document with not only historical significance but a prophetic quality.

In my book, I discuss how Bolívar, while acknowledging the complexity of his struggle, never lost hope. Despite betrayals, defeats, and the harsh realities surrounding him, Bolívar continued to believe in the possibility of a unified Gran Colombia. His vision of a free Latin America, capable of self-governing and deciding its own future without external interference, remains the heart of his fight. And today, in light of the current geopolitical landscape, this fight seems far from over.

The recent international context also came to mind, as Russia and China have been increasing their influence in Latin America. Global economic powers are seeking to exploit the political vulnerabilities of the region to establish new forms of economic and military dominance. The geopolitics of the 21st century may look very different from the 19th, but the issue of sovereignty—both national and regional—remains at the core of our struggle.

Lithium: The New Gold and the New Battle for Sovereignty

The discussion then shifted to a topic I consider crucial for the future: lithium. As I pointed out in my book, lithium has become the most strategic resource in the global energy transition. Given its pivotal role in batteries for electric vehicles and green technologies, controlling this resource has become a key objective for global powers. Bolivia, Argentina, and Chile, the countries in the Lithium Triangle, now find themselves in a delicate geopolitical position, facing immense pressure from global powers seeking to control this vital resource.

Bruce Martyn Payne, a British actor and activist, spoke about a new kind of colonialism—one that is less visible but just as dangerous. The international competition for lithium, which today involves powers like the United States, China, and the European Union, risks transforming into a new form of imperialism, exerted through control over natural resources. Extractivism, which has historically plagued our region, is now taking on more insidious forms. No longer through arms, but through access to the resources necessary for the energy transition, the new frontier of the battle for sovereignty is being fought.

The New Resistance: A Struggle That Doesn’t End

By the end of the evening, I was left with a profound realization that stayed with me throughout the discussion: the struggle for the independence of Latin American peoples is far from over. If, in the past, colonial domination was imposed through arms, today it manifests in more subtle forms—through control over natural resources, technological dominance, and economic hegemony. But while the forms may change, the resistance—embodied by Bolívar—remains.

What struck me, and what I emphasized in my book, is that the fight for social justice, for people’s rights, and for their self-determination is alive and well. Not only in Latin American streets but in every corner of the world where people fight for a more just future. Today, the battle for lithium and natural resource sovereignty represents the new frontier of independence for Latin American peoples. The Rome event reaffirmed that Bolívar’s cause is more alive and relevant than ever. Not only in Latin American squares but in every part of the world where people are fighting for justice, self-determination, and the preservation of their dignity.

The LeggereNienteMale Festival was a moment of deep reflection on the continuity of Bolívar’s legacy. The gathering in Rome underscored, forcefully, that Bolívar’s cause is not a thing of the past but a living challenge for the present and future. As we look to the geopolitical changes, new power blocs, and the growing competition for natural resources, the rebellious heart of the Americas continues to beat strongly, ready to resist the new forms of neocolonialism.

I am grateful for this opportunity to reflect on these issues, but I am also convinced that Bolívar’s struggle, far from being over, remains a beacon for all future generations who believe in a world free from oppression and exploitation.