The President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen; the German Chancellor, Friedrich Merz; and the French President, Emmanuel Macron, will not attend the IV Summit between the European Union and the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC), scheduled for this Sunday in Santa Marta. In the first two cases, spokespersons said the absence was due to scheduling conflicts and the limited participation of other heads of state and government. As for Macron, sources at the Élysée Palace quoted by EFE said that his visit to Colombia was “not planned,” without offering further details.
“At a time of geopolitical challenges and divisions, the upcoming summit confirms the importance and momentum of relations between the EU and CELAC,” sources from the EU executive told EFE, referring to von der Leyen’s absence. The same sources specified that the European Commission will “closely coordinate” with the Council and its president, Portugal’s António Costa, “the results under its responsibility.”
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According to the same sources, Von der Leyen asked the EU’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Kaja Kallas, who is also vice president of the Commission, to attend the summit on behalf of the body.
António Costa, President of the European Council since 2024. Foto:EFE
With this announcement, the number of foreign dignitaries begins to dwindle. The Foreign Ministry confirmed to EL TIEMPO the attendance of Portuguese Prime Minister Luís Montenegro; Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez; Uruguayan President Yamandú Orsi Martínez; as well as the heads of government of Belize, Finland, Croatia, and the Czech Republic.
Although there are still several days to go before the summit begins, the Financial Times revealed on Tuesday the possible reasons behind the cancellations. According to the British newspaper, the decision is related to the recent sanctions imposed by the US government against President Gustavo Petro, who will also serve as pro tempore president of the mechanism.
Added to this is the military deployment initiated by the Trump administration in the Caribbean and the caution of EU officials not to upset the United States “for fear of undermining a fragile trade agreement reached this summer to avoid a transatlantic tariff war.” “The impact of what is happening in the Caribbean is very complex,” a Latin American official who planned to attend the summit told the Financial Times.
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It is worth mentioning that the Colombian president was recently included in the Specially Designated Nationals (SDN) list of the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), after several days of tension with Donald Trump, who accused him of allegedly being the “leader of drug trafficking.” In addition, the summit is taking place in a context in which the US naval deployment in the Caribbean has been extended to the Pacific, while voices are beginning to emerge in the United States suggesting possible ground operations in Venezuela.
Despite this, the European Union ambassador to Colombia, François Roudié, is confident that the summit will remain focused on the defined areas. “The impact it may have on the summit? I hope none. (…) I hope this summit will focus on the essentials: strengthening relations between peoples. I imagine that is what will happen,” he told this newspaper.
Donald Trump, President of the United States Foto:EFE
The last summit of this kind was held in Brussels two years ago, after an eight-year hiatus. The agenda, which includes two working sessions, will address the defense of multilateralism, trade and investment, ecological and digital transitions, and cooperation in the fight against organized crime, corruption, and drug and human trafficking. It will also explore new avenues of collaboration to promote peace, security, and shared prosperity.
Lula confirms his attendance
“Forces opposed to peace in America wanted the CELAC/Europe summit to fail. And of course, in the new fossilized and anti-democratic geopolitics, the aim is to prevent peoples who desire freedom and democracy from coming together.” With this message, posted on his X account, President Gustavo Petro responded on Monday to criticism about the possible low turnout at the summit and assured that preparations are continuing.
On Tuesday, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, president of Brazil, also confirmed his attendance and will lead the Latin American delegation. “I am grateful to President Lula, who, at this most difficult time for Latin America and the Caribbean, has decided that we should meet with Europe in Santa Marta. It is time for unity,” the Colombian president said on his X account.
However, other figures from the Latin American left, such as Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum and Chilean President Gabriel Boric, will not be attending. Argentine President Javier Milei and Peru’s interim president, José Jerí, are also not expected to participate.
The problems surrounding the summit also arise after the Dominican Republic announced on Monday the postponement of next month’s Summit of the Americas, a high-level meeting between Latin American leaders, the United States, and Canada, in a decision that had the backing of the Trump administration.
CAMILO A. CASTILLO — Subeditor Internacional — X: @camiloandres894
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