Several European leaders have canceled their participation in an upcoming EU-CELAC summit amid concerns over U.S. President Donald Trump’s escalating actions in the region, according to reports. The event, scheduled in Santa Marta, Colombia, faces significant setbacks as key figures, including German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and French President Emmanuel Macron, opt out of attending.
The withdrawals follow Trump’s recent imposition of sanctions on Colombian President Gustavo Petro and his order for military strikes against suspected narcotics vessels in the Caribbean. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen also declined to attend, citing scheduling conflicts, while Berlin and the Elysee Palace provided similar justifications. A senior Latin American official described the situation as “very complicated,” noting last-minute cancellations by multiple leaders.
Trump’s administration has intensified its naval presence in the Caribbean, framing it as a measure to combat drug trafficking and pressure Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro. The move compounds existing tensions with Colombia after Trump accused Petro of being an “illegal drug dealer.” Colombian officials have dismissed claims of diplomatic isolation, with Deputy Foreign Minister Mauricio Jaramillo stating that the cancellations are unrelated to U.S. actions.
Despite the setbacks, Brazil’s Lula da Silva and Spain’s Pedro Sanchez are expected to attend, alongside European Council President Antonio Costa, who will co-chair the meeting. The summit aims to address trade relations and organized crime, uniting 50 nations representing 21% of global GDP. Colombia’s president, however, accused Washington of undermining the event through “anti-democratic fossil geopolitics.”
