South American leaders announce new regional bloc Friday March 22,2019

A group of South American leaders have signed a declaration creating a regional bloc of nations that they say is open to any country, regardless of ideology, to collaborate on solving regional problems.

Presidents from Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Chile, Ecuador, Paraguay and Peru attended a summit on Friday March 22,2019 in Santiago, Chile where the declaration was signed. 

Chilean President Sebastian Pinera and Colombia's Ivan Duque had led the push for the new political grouping after more than half the members of the previous regional bloc, Unasur, left last year, saying it had failed to take action on Venezuela

The new seven-nation bloc, known as Prosur will have "a firm and clear commitment to democracy, freedom and a respect for human rights," according to Pinera who spoke at a press conference during the summit.