The relevance of a major summit between the European Union and the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) is facing serious doubts as key leaders have opted to skip the event. The two-day meeting in Santa Marta, Colombia, aimed at reinforcing inter-regional ties, is struggling for significance due to the absence of European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz. This low turnout occurs just as the region grapples with a escalating crisis involving a deadly US military operation in the Caribbean and Pacific.
The host nation’s leader, Colombian President Gustavo Petro, finds himself at the center of the controversy. He is one of the most vociferous critics of the US strikes, which are targeting alleged drug-carrying vessels and have claimed over 60 lives since September. Petro has condemned the deaths as “extrajudicial executions” and highlighted the fact that Colombian citizens are among the victims. This intense criticism from the host country ensures the topic will overshadow all other diplomatic proceedings.
While Colombia’s Foreign Ministry has officially cited scheduling conflicts with a UN climate summit as the reason for the poor attendance, the presence of these top European figures was seen as crucial for the summit’s success. To counter the narrative of a diplomatic failure, officials have emphasized the presence of Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez and Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. Lula’s decision to attend was a last-minute surprise, given that Brazil is concurrently preparing to host the COP30 climate conference.
The official agenda for the summit is ambitious, with Colombia hoping to secure signatures on the Declaration of Santa Marta. This agreement is designed to foster cooperation on renewable energy, food security, financing, and technology. However, analysts like Alexander Main from the Center for Economic and Policy Research note that this is the last high-level multilateral summit in the region this year. Its timing, combined with the absence of the United States as a party, provides a unique opportunity for regional leaders to “frankly address” the military deployment.
Brazil’s role is proving pivotal. Brazilian diplomats have explicitly stated that US threats against Venezuela and the recent boat strikes will “naturally” come up in discussions. Lula’s attendance is being interpreted as a move of solidarity with Venezuela, and he has actively pushed for de-escalation. Lula recently disclosed that he advised US President Donald Trump in Malaysia to follow the peaceful diplomatic path modeled by George W. Bush regarding Venezuela, emphasizing that “Latin America is a region of peace.”