Bloomberg: Fears of US backlash keep top EU figures away from Latin America talks

Several top European leaders, including German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, are expected to skip the upcoming European Union–Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (EU–CELAC) summit, partly out of concern that attending could strain relations with US President Donald Trump.

According to sources familiar with the matter, cited by Bloomberg, the summit — scheduled to take place in Santa Marta, Colombia, on November 9–10 — has come under growing scrutiny in Europe as the US intensifies pressure on Latin American nations, including Colombia and Venezuela, over alleged drug trafficking links.

Attendance at the summit is expected to be notably low. Only five European leaders and three Latin American and Caribbean leaders have so far confirmed their participation, people involved in the planning said. The limited turnout, they noted, reflects concerns about Washington’s increasingly assertive policy in the region, which has included heightened military threats against Venezuela and recent sanctions on Colombian President Gustavo Petro.

A spokesperson for Chancellor Merz, Stefan Kornelius, said the German leader decided not to attend the meeting due to the “low participation of other heads of state and government.” The European Commission did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

The EU and CELAC together comprise 50 countries and account for 21% of global GDP. The Santa Marta summit is intended to address major topics such as trade expansion, regional cooperation, and combating organised crime.

This is not the first regional summit to face political complications. Earlier this week, the Dominican Republic announced it would postpone a key meeting of leaders from across the Americas until next year, citing rising tensions linked to US military strikes on vessels in the Caribbean, which have further strained relations with Venezuela and divided opinion across the region.

Meanwhile, European officials continue efforts to finalise the long-delayed trade agreement with the Mercosur bloc of South American countries before the end of the year.

By Tamilla Hasanova