Background on Key Figures and Their Relevance
The Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) and the European Union (EU) convened a summit in Santa Marta, Colombia. The event, which aims to address trade, energy transition, and cooperation against organized crime, faced challenges due to low participation and lingering tensions with the United States.
Gustavo Petro, Colombia’s president and a left-leaning politician, has been vocal about pressures from the United States against his attendance. Meanwhile, Kaja Kallas, Vice-President of the European Commission, represented the EU at the summit following the last-minute cancellation of Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission.
Low Attendance and Criticism
The summit commenced with only nine leaders present, including notable absences and late cancellations. Political analyst Sandra Borda suggests that Colombia’s poor organization and improvisation discouraged many leaders from attending.
US Shadow and Sanctions
The United States has withdrawn Colombia’s anti-drug trafficking ally certification and imposed economic sanctions on President Petro for insufficient efforts in curbing drug production. In response, Washington deployed a fleet of warships in the Caribbean to combat cocaine smuggling into the US. Since early September, at least 70 alleged drug traffickers have been killed by the US military.
Petro criticized these actions as “extra-judicial executions.”
Key Agreements and Participants
Despite differing views on issues like the war in Ukraine, which CELAC has not officially condemned, Europe and Latin America remain crucial allies in technology and raw material exchange.
Brazil’s President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, an ally of Petro, balanced the scale by attending as a significant interlocutor for the controversial EU-Mercosur trade agreement. António Costa, President of the European Council, and Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez were notable EU representatives at the summit.
Key Questions and Answers
- What is the main topic of discussion at the Celac-UE summit? The key topics include trade, energy transition, and cooperation to combat organized crime.
- Who are the key figures attending the summit? Notable attendees include Colombian President Gustavo Petro, Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, António Costa (President of the European Council), and Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez.
- What are the tensions between the US and Colombia? The US has withdrawn Colombia’s anti-drug trafficking ally certification and imposed sanctions on President Petro. Additionally, the US has deployed warships in the Caribbean to combat cocaine smuggling, resulting in alleged extra-judicial executions criticized by Petro.
- Why are Europe and Latin America considered key allies? Despite differing views on certain issues, Europe and Latin America are vital partners in exchanging technologies and raw materials.
