EU Commission President to Skip CELAC-EU Summit in Colombia

The 4th Summit between the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) and the European Union (EU), which will take place this weekend in Santa Marta (Colombia) and brings together countries from two major political and economic blocs, faces the threat of failure amid several high-profile absences that have already been confirmed.

Among those missing are European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and the German president. Only the last-minute confirmation by Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has prevented what would have been a disastrous turnout failure.

All this comes after the successful previous summit held in 2023 in Brussels under Spain’s presidency of the EU — an event that ended an eight-year hiatus. Although until recently the European Union had maintained a firm commitment to attend this meeting in large numbers — this time on the other side of the Atlantic — and the initial European participation list was even longer than the Latin American one, this week’s confirmed withdrawals have triggered a domino effect that now threatens the success of the summit itself.

With more than 1 billion people combined, CELAC and the EU represent 14% of the world’s population, 21% of the global gross domestic product, and one-third of United Nations members.

EU Commission president skips CELAC-EU summit in Colombia

It will be hard to ignore the symbolism: Von der Leyen announced she will not attend, despite the summit having been planned with her usual participation. Sources within the European Commission justified her absence by citing “the current European political agenda and the limited participation of other heads of state and government.” In her place, the EU’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Kaja Kallas — who is also a Commission vice president — will attend.

At the same time, German Foreign Minister Friedrich Merz — who was supposed to replace the German president — also declined to travel to Santa Marta, following the example of other European leaders such as French President Emmanuel Macron.

From Colombia, it is said that these absences have had a domino effect: When some Latin American leaders began to withdraw, a wave of doubt spread that also affected the EU. In this context, the summit’s own secretariat admitted that the meeting faced a real risk of diplomatic impotence.

Amid the looming void of headlines in Santa Marta, the last-minute appearance of Brazil’s President Lula da Silva gained far greater weight than initially expected. According to sources from Colombia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Lula confirmed his attendance by declaring that the meeting “only makes sense at this moment if we discuss the issue of U.S. warships in Latin American waters.”

Brazil’s presence sends two messages: First, that there is genuine Latin American interest in the summit; and second, that without Brazil, the meeting might have been at real risk of suspension. As Colombian President Gustavo Petro warned in his statements: “Forces alien to the peace of the Americas have sought to make the summit fail,” a clear reference to alleged U.S. pressure on several countries, including European ones, to derail the summit. With Lula — an ideological ally of President Petro — the meeting still holds a chance to move forward.

“I thank President Lula, who, at this moment — the most difficult for Latin America and the Caribbean — has decided that we should meet in Santa Marta with Europe. It is the time for unity, thank you,” wrote the Colombian president this afternoon on his X social media account, following the confirmation of Lula’s attendance at the Santa Marta summit.

Agradezco al presidente Lula, que en este,que es el momento más duro para Latinoamérica y el Caribe, decida que nos encontremos en Santa Marta con Europa.

Es la hora de la unidad
gracias.

Nos veremos en al COP 30 para luchar por una economía que nos aleje del colapso… pic.twitter.com/iUDvfMv0kA

— Gustavo Petro (@petrogustavo) November 4, 2025

Why are there so many absences at the CELAC-EU summit in Colombia?

There is no single answer; a mix of scheduling, geography, symbolism, and international pressure is at play. First, the location of the summit: Santa Marta is not Bogota. The travel distance, limited flight connections, and tight schedules pose additional logistical obstacles for many leaders. The Colombian president wanted to hold the summit in the Caribbean city to mark its 500th anniversary, but that decision has created logistical problems for several attendees.

Second, the saturation of international events within a few weeks: The summit coincides with other global meetings, both digital and in person, reducing the overall “deliverability.” And finally — and perhaps most controversially — the alleged indirect pressure from Donald Trump and Washington.

In recent days, interpretations have circulated suggesting that the United States may have exerted influence to dissuade certain European leaders from attending, given that Colombia is promoting an event that some sectors see as independent from — or even contrary to — U.S. policy in Latin America.

An official EU press note confirmed the cancellation of the pre-summit press briefing and linked the absence of several top representatives to scheduling cuts. In Brussels, there is also some discontent over Von der Leyen’s absence: For some member states, her nonattendance undermines the EU’s political weight in the region.

A setback for Colombia’s Petro, acting CELAC president and host

Colombia, as host and acting president of CELAC, had made this summit a symbolic priority. Gustavo Petro insists that the relationship between Latin America and Europe must advance toward “more trade, more investment, and more cooperation,” arguing that the geopolitical moment demands it — an attempt to reduce U.S. influence in Latin America following Trump’s tariff policies.

The event will feature an ambitious agenda: Defending multilateralism, promoting strategic investments, advancing green and digital transitions, and combating organized crime, drug trafficking, and human smuggling. But organizers admit that these topics will lose momentum if top leaders are not present.

For Latin America, and particularly for CELAC, this summit represented a renewed opportunity for international repositioning. After years of intermittent meetings, the 4th summit was meant to serve as a stage for reaffirming biregional alliances — something that, just three days before the summit begins, is now in doubt.

For the EU, the meeting was also significant: At a time of global realignment — marked by trade, geopolitical, and value-based tensions — strengthening the Europe – Latin America partnership represents a strategic asset. As European Council President Antonio Costa said: “At a time when the world threatens to turn inward, this summit reaffirms the strength and vitality of the EU’s partnership with Latin America and the Caribbean.”

Nevertheless, with such visible absences, some analysts question the summit’s significance — especially following the high level of participation achieved at the meeting held two years ago.