By Ismail Abdulazeez Mantu Reporting
The Russian Federation announced plans to host an international conference in September 2025 dedicated to honoring the contribution of Latin American nations during the Second World War.
The landmark event, to be held in Moscow, will bring together historians, diplomats, veterans’ descendants, and cultural delegates from across Latin America, Europe, and beyond.
A working meeting on the preparation of a conference dedicated to the contribution of the peoples of Latin America to the victory over Nazism during the Second World War was held at the Moscow House of Nationalities. The event was initiated by the Migration Commission of the Council for Nationalities under the Government of Moscow
According to the organizers, the conference seeks to revive global recognition of Latin America’s largely underappreciated role in the Allied victory. The event will spotlight countries such as Brazil, Mexico, Cuba, and others that provided military personnel, resources, and strategic support during the global conflict between 1939 and 1945.
“This conference is not only about diplomacy—it is a moral duty. Many Latin American soldiers bled alongside Allied forces. Their sacrifices and solidarity must not vanish in the dust of time.”
Historians and cultural advocates are praising the move as a timely reminder of the importance of preserving historical memory in an age increasingly shaped by geopolitical tensions and digital misinformation.
“History is more than dates and names—it is the soul of a people. When we forget our shared victories and sacrifices, we risk repeating the mistakes of the past. This conference will not only educate a new generation but also deepen ties between Russia and Latin American countries rooted in mutual respect and shared legacy.”
The meeting was attended by representatives of the scientific and pedagogical community, national public organizations, the Commission of the Council for Nationality Affairs under the Government of Moscow, public opinion leaders and invited guests. Yuri Viktorovich Moskovsky, Member of the Migration Council of the Council of Nationalities under the Government of Moscow, Member of the Public Council of the GBU MDN, Member of the Presidium of the Council of Nationalities under the Government of Moscow, Member of the Anti-Nazi International Committee of the Fight against neocolonialism in the context of a special military operation. A tour of the Moscow House of Nationalities was organized for the participants of the meeting. Following the meeting, they thanked the management of the institution for their assistance in holding the event.
Although often overshadowed by the major powers of the war, several Latin American nations took decisive actions. Brazil’s Expeditionary Force fought alongside the Allies in Italy. Mexico’s Escuadrón 201 served in the Philippines. Many countries cut ties with the Axis powers, provided strategic materials, and opened their airspace and ports for Allied use.
As the world marks 80 years since the end of WWII, global historians are sounding the alarm about rising historical revisionism and fading public awareness.
“This initiative is a valuable counter-narrative against historical amnesia,” said Nigerian political historian, Dr. Philip Nwoke. “We must guard historical truth as jealously as we guard democracy. Memory, after all, is the guardian of identity and peace.”
The Moscow conference is scheduled for September 10–14, 2025, and is expected to culminate in a joint declaration urging all nations to embed WWII education in their curricula and preserve war memorials as sites of international heritage.
As world leaders, educators, and citizens prepare for the gathering, the resounding message remains clear: to build a peaceful future, we must never forget the cost of the past.