EU, Latin America and Caribbean Nations Meet Amid US Military Operation
Representatives from European, Latin American and Caribbean nations convene in Colombia to strengthen ties amid tensions over US military strikes.
BOGOTA: Representatives of the European Union (EU), Latin American, and Caribbean nations will meet in Colombia on Sunday to bolster ties amidst growing divisions in the Western Hemisphere triggered by the U.S. military operation targeting alleged drug-trafficking vessels.
The significance of this two-day summit, organized by the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) and the EU, is called into question due to the absence of several high-ranking officials, including European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz.
The Colombian Foreign Ministry attributes these absences to scheduling conflicts with the United Nations Climate Summit and downplays concerns by highlighting the presence of Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez and Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.
Despite this, attendees will seek the signing of the Declaration of Santa Marta, focusing on renewable energy, food security, financing, and technological cooperation.
However, discussions are expected to gravitate towards the contentious U.S. military operation, with Colombian President Gustavo Petro, one of its strongest critics, being present at the summit.
Since September, these strikes have resulted in over 60 fatalities, leading Petro to term these deaths 'extrajudicial executions,' and identifying at least one victim as a Colombian national.
One of two known survivors is also from Colombia.
Alexander Main, international policy director at the Center for Economic and Policy Research think tank, emphasizes that with this year's Summit of the Americas postponed, the summit in Colombia represents the last high-level multilateral meeting in the region for 2025.
This setup allows governments to address military deployments candidly as the U.S. is not participating.
Brazilian President Lula's surprise announcement of his attendance reflects regional solidarity with Venezuela.
The Brazilian Foreign Minister Mauro Vieira and Ambassador Gisela Padovan underscored that addressing recent U.S. threats against Venezuela and the recent naval strikes in the Caribbean will likely be on the summit agenda.
Lula has urged neighboring nations to prevent conflict escalation in Venezuela, particularly following a meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump last month.
He suggested that Latin American countries follow previous examples of pacification efforts similar to those after the 2002 coup attempt against Hugo Chávez.
The significance of this two-day summit, organized by the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) and the EU, is called into question due to the absence of several high-ranking officials, including European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz.
The Colombian Foreign Ministry attributes these absences to scheduling conflicts with the United Nations Climate Summit and downplays concerns by highlighting the presence of Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez and Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.
Despite this, attendees will seek the signing of the Declaration of Santa Marta, focusing on renewable energy, food security, financing, and technological cooperation.
However, discussions are expected to gravitate towards the contentious U.S. military operation, with Colombian President Gustavo Petro, one of its strongest critics, being present at the summit.
Since September, these strikes have resulted in over 60 fatalities, leading Petro to term these deaths 'extrajudicial executions,' and identifying at least one victim as a Colombian national.
One of two known survivors is also from Colombia.
Alexander Main, international policy director at the Center for Economic and Policy Research think tank, emphasizes that with this year's Summit of the Americas postponed, the summit in Colombia represents the last high-level multilateral meeting in the region for 2025.
This setup allows governments to address military deployments candidly as the U.S. is not participating.
Brazilian President Lula's surprise announcement of his attendance reflects regional solidarity with Venezuela.
The Brazilian Foreign Minister Mauro Vieira and Ambassador Gisela Padovan underscored that addressing recent U.S. threats against Venezuela and the recent naval strikes in the Caribbean will likely be on the summit agenda.
Lula has urged neighboring nations to prevent conflict escalation in Venezuela, particularly following a meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump last month.
He suggested that Latin American countries follow previous examples of pacification efforts similar to those after the 2002 coup attempt against Hugo Chávez.
