The Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) and the European Union are meeting in Colombia for a summit intended to strengthen ties, but the event is kicking off amid sharp divisions over US military actions. The host nation’s leader, Colombian President Gustavo Petro, has set a confrontational tone by fiercely condemning a US operation against alleged drug vessels. Petro has referred to the 60-plus deaths resulting from the strikes as “extrajudicial executions,” a stance that promises to make the military operation a key point of contention.
The summit, held in the city of Santa Marta, is already facing scrutiny over its relevance due to the conspicuous absence of high-level European leaders. Neither European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen nor German Chancellor Friedrich Merz is attending. Colombia’s Foreign Ministry has publicly attributed this to unavoidable scheduling conflicts with a UN climate summit, trying to downplay the diplomatic snub.
To salvage the event’s prestige, officials are emphasizing the presence of Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez and Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. Lula’s attendance, in particular, was a surprise development, signaling Brazil’s intent to engage deeply in regional affairs despite its own commitments as the host of the upcoming COP30 climate conference. His presence adds significant weight to the Latin American bloc.
President Petro’s strong criticism of the US strikes, which have killed at least one Colombian and involved another Colombian survivor, makes the issue unavoidable. While the official plan is to finalize the Declaration of Santa Marta—focusing on renewable energy, food security, and technology—the unofficial agenda is set. Experts like Alexander Main note that this is the last high-level regional summit of the year, and the exclusion of the US from the talks provides a unique forum for leaders to frankly address the military deployment.
Brazilian officials have indicated that Lula’s decision to attend is linked to showing regional solidarity, especially with Venezuela, which has faced threats of military action from US President Donald Trump. Brazil’s ambassador for the region confirmed that the US strikes and threats against Venezuela will “naturally” be discussed. Lula himself has been active on this front, recently stating he told Trump in Malaysia that Latin America is a “region of peace” and urged him to follow George W. Bush’s example in pacifying Venezuela diplomatically.