When senior European officials mention relations between the European Union, Latin America and the Caribbean, they repeatedly point out that the sixty countries representing a third of UN members speak with one voice in defence of multilateralism. The EU, they point out, has always advocated regional integration of the South American continent as a basis for block-to-block cooperation.
With the toxic relationship that Europeans have had with the President of the United States since his return to power, the European Commission has been singing the praises of diversifying political and commercial relations. Its motto has been to defend a rules-based international system with like-minded people.
For the first time since the start of her second term in office, the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, will not be assuming her institutional responsibility to represent the European Union, together with the President of the European Council, at a bilateral summit, by skipping the EU-CELAC summit on Sunday 9 November in Santa Marta, Colombia (see EUROPE 13745/10).
It’s a curious idea: championing openness to other continents, yet turning one’s back on dialogue with their leaders.
Ms von der Leyen did not hesitate to cross the Atlantic at the end of 2024, provoking the ire of France, to appear alongside Mercosur leaders to make official the conclusion of negotiations on the trade agreement (see EUROPE 13540/1). In retaliation, she was denied access to the festivities marking the reopening of Notre-Dame Cathedral.
Is the Commission President’s absence from Santa Marta due to the remoteness of the Caribbean seaside resort? Hard to believe, given that Ms von der Leyen is currently taking part in COP30 in Belém, Brazil. The political sequencing put in place was designed to facilitate the arrival of the leaders at the EU-CELAC summit.
Officially, the President of the Commission took her decision after noting the low turnout of Heads of State and Government at the bi-regional summit. On the Latin American side, the leaders of Mexico, Argentina and Chile will not be making the trip, just like the French President, the German Chancellor and the Italian Prime Minister. However, the Brazilian President and the Spanish Prime Minister will be present.
Some attribute this decision to the tense political situation between the United States and Colombia. The Colombian President, who has been unafraid to rebuke his US counterpart, was sanctioned by Washington, which sent its naval forces to patrol the Caribbean, accusing the Colombian and Venezuelan authorities of doing too little to combat drug trafficking, or even benefiting from it.
Contempt, negligence? By refusing an invitation to the city where Simón Bolívar, the Libertador of Greater Colombia died, Ms von der Leyen is showing her indifference towards the people of Latin America and the Caribbean. Her absence suggests she wants to avoid provoking the ‘gringo’ now occupying the White House. (Original version in French by Mathieu Bion)