US Absence at EU-CELAC Summit May Allow “Frank” Crisis Talks, Says Expert

An expert from the Center for Economic and Policy Research suggests that a major summit in Colombia could become a crucial forum for Latin American leaders, precisely because the United States is not in attendance. Alexander Main, the think tank’s international policy director, noted that with this being the last high-level multilateral summit in the region this year, the EU-CELAC meeting provides a unique opportunity for governments to “frankly address” the central issue of US military deployment.
The deployment in question is a controversial operation in the Caribbean and Pacific that has killed over 60 people since September. This has drawn sharp criticism from regional leaders, most notably the summit’s host, Colombian President Gustavo Petro. Petro has called the deaths “extrajudicial executions” and confirmed his own citizens are victims, making it what Main calls a “priority for several regional leaders.”
This need for a frank discussion comes as the summit’s own diplomatic standing is on shaky ground. The event is proceeding without European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz. Colombia’s government has tried to downplay this, attributing the absences to scheduling conflicts with a United Nations climate summit and pointing to the presence of Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez.
Despite the low turnout from Europe, the Latin American bloc is being reinforced by Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, who surprised observers with his decision to attend. Lula’s presence is directly linked to the regional security crisis. His foreign ministry stated the visit is a gesture of “regional solidarity with Venezuela,” which has faced its own military threats from US President Donald Trump.
Therefore, while the official docket aims for a “Declaration of Santa Marta” on economic and environmental cooperation, the real business of the summit will likely be a candid, and unified, critique of US military actions. Brazilian diplomats have already confirmed the Venezuelan delegation will bring up the boat strikes, and without the US present to defend its operation, the Latin American and Caribbean states may find a rare moment of consensus.