EU and Latin America Summit Faces Tensions Amid U.S. Strikes

Representatives from the European Union (EU), Latin America, and Caribbean nations convened in Santa Marta, Colombia, on March 3, 2024, for a two-day summit aimed at enhancing regional cooperation. The gathering occurs against a backdrop of growing concern over recent U.S. military strikes targeting vessels suspected of drug trafficking. These operations have resulted in over 60 fatalities since September, raising questions about the summit’s relevance in light of current geopolitical tensions.

Colombian officials have indicated that a key objective of the summit is to finalize a declaration addressing issues such as renewable energy, food security, financing, and technological cooperation. The U.S. military actions are expected to dominate discussions, particularly given the strong opposition expressed by Colombian President Gustavo Petro. He has condemned the strikes as “extrajudicial executions” and noted that among the deceased were Colombian citizens.

In his opening remarks, Petro questioned the purpose of the summit in the context of ongoing military actions, stating, “What are we doing with this meeting in today’s world amidst missiles?” He emphasized his aspiration for the summit to serve as “a beacon of light amidst the barbarity,” referring not only to the U.S. strikes but also to the ongoing conflict in Gaza.

The significance of the summit has been further complicated by the absence of several prominent leaders, including Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, and Friedrich Merz, Chancellor of Germany. Colombian authorities have attributed this to scheduling conflicts with the United Nations climate summit, COP30, taking place in Brazil concurrently. Despite this, the presence of leaders such as Pedro Sánchez, Prime Minister of Spain, and Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, President of Brazil, has been highlighted as a sign of commitment to regional collaboration.

Following Petro’s address, other leaders took the opportunity to underscore the positive developments in trade and digital connectivity between Europe and Latin America. European Council President António Costa stated, “We choose dialogue, not division; we choose cooperation, not confrontation; we choose partnership, not isolation.” His comments came without direct reference to the contentious military strikes.

Lula’s appearance at the summit was unexpected, given that Brazil is hosting the COP30 climate conference. Brazilian Foreign Minister Mauro Vieira noted that Lula’s participation reflects a commitment to regional solidarity, particularly in relation to Venezuela. Diplomatic discussions are anticipated to address the implications of U.S. military actions in the Caribbean, which have drawn sharp criticism from various leaders.

Ambassador Gisela Padovan, Brazil’s Secretary for Latin America and the Caribbean, confirmed that the Venezuelan delegation is likely to raise concerns regarding military threats. Lula has urged Latin American nations to collaborate in preventing conflict in Venezuela and has called for a peaceful resolution to the situation.

The Trump administration defends the military strikes as necessary actions against “narco-terrorists,” citing undisclosed intelligence. However, investigations by the Associated Press have indicated that many victims were impoverished individuals, including Venezuelan fishermen, some of whom were on their first smuggling run.

According to Alexander Main, International Policy Director at the Center for Economic and Policy Research, this summit represents one of the last significant high-level multilateral gatherings in the region before the postponed Summit of the Americas in 2025. Main noted that the absence of U.S. representatives may allow for more candid discussions on military deployment, highlighting the priority of the issue for several regional leaders.

As the summit progresses, it remains to be seen how effectively leaders will address the pressing issues at hand, particularly in light of the ongoing U.S. operations that have cast a shadow over the gathering.