A critical summit between European and Latin American nations received a last-minute diplomatic lifeline with the surprise announcement that Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva will attend. This development comes as the meeting in Santa Marta, Colombia, struggles with questions of relevance following the high-profile absences of European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz. While Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez’s presence provides some European weight, Lula’s decision is seen as a major move to bolster the Latin American bloc.
However, Lula’s agenda appears laser-focused on regional security rather than the summit’s official program. Brazil’s Foreign Minister, Mauro Vieira, explicitly stated that Lula’s attendance reflects “regional solidarity with Venezuela.” This signals a clear intent to address US President Donald Trump’s threats of military action against Venezuela, a topic Brazilian diplomats have confirmed will be a “natural” part of the discussions. This focus aligns with the other major crisis dominating the event.
That crisis is a deadly US military operation in the Caribbean and Pacific, which has killed over 60 people since September. The summit’s host, Colombian President Gustavo Petro, is one of the operation’s strongest critics, calling the deaths “extrajudicial executions.” His condemnation is deeply personal, as at least one Colombian citizen is among the dead, and another is one of only two known survivors. This guarantees the US strikes will be a volatile point of debate.
Lula has already been actively engaged in diplomacy on this front. He recently revealed that he urged Trump during a meeting in Malaysia to adopt a peaceful strategy, citing former President George W. Bush’s efforts to “pacify” Venezuela after the 2002 coup attempt. Lula’s core message to the US president was that “Latin America is a region of peace,” a sentiment that will likely resonate strongly with other leaders at the summit.
Amidst this geopolitical turmoil, Colombian officials are attempting to steer the focus toward the “Declaration of Santa Marta.” This planned agreement centers on long-term cooperation in renewable energy, food security, and technology. Yet, with the host nation focused on the US strikes and the region’s largest power focused on threats to Venezuela, the official agenda seems destined to be overshadowed by the immediate security crisis.