Lula’s Surprise Attendance Bolsters EU-LatAm Summit Shaken by US Strikes

A crucial summit between European and Latin American nations, intended to forge stronger alliances, is being held in Colombia under a cloud of intense regional controversy and disappointing attendance from top leaders. The meeting of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) and the EU is proceeding without key figures like German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. However, the event received a significant boost from the surprise announcement that Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva would attend, joining Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez.
Lula’s presence is seen as a critical stabilizer for a summit overshadowed by a deadly US military operation in the region. This operation, targeting supposed drug-carrying vessels, has resulted in over 60 fatalities since September. The summit’s host, Colombian President Gustavo Petro, has become a leading voice of opposition, decrying the deaths as “extrajudicial executions” and confirming Colombian casualties. His strong stance guarantees the US operation will be a central, contentious topic.
The official explanation for the absence of top European officials has been attributed to scheduling overlaps with a major UN climate summit. Colombia’s Foreign Ministry has tried to downplay the resulting concerns, focusing instead on the diplomatic weight brought by Sánchez and Lula. Lula’s decision was particularly unexpected, as Brazil is deep in preparations for hosting the upcoming COP30 climate conference, suggesting a deliberate prioritization of regional solidarity.
The summit’s formal objective is the signing of the “Declaration of Santa Marta,” an agreement focused on advancing renewable energy, technological cooperation, food security, and financing. Nevertheless, the dominant theme will likely be the US military’s actions. Experts note that with the Summit of the Americas postponed, this CELAC-EU meeting is the last significant multilateral gathering of the year in the region, offering a platform for candid discussions without the US present.
Brazilian officials have confirmed that Lula’s attendance is partly motivated by a desire to show solidarity with Venezuela and to address US President Donald Trump’s threats of military action in the region. A Brazilian ambassador stated the boat strikes would “naturally” be discussed. Lula, emphasizing diplomacy, recently revealed he encouraged Trump during a meeting in Malaysia to engage in efforts to “pacify” Venezuela, similar to George W. Bush’s approach in 2002, reminding him that “Latin America is a region of peace.”