Nations Hold Summit Over US Military Op11/10 06:18

   

   BOGOTA, Colombia (AP) -- Representatives of European, Latin American and 
Caribbean nations on Sunday began a two-day summit in Colombia to try to 
strengthen ties despite questions on the gathering's relevance and divisions in 
the Western Hemisphere over the U.S. military operation targeting alleged 
drug-carrying vessels.

   Colombian officials have indicated they will seek the signing of a 
declaration on renewable energy, food security, financing and technological 
cooperation at the end of the summit of the Community of Latin American and 
Caribbean States and the European Union. The deadly U.S. operation, however, 
will likely become a key point of discussion as Colombian President Gustavo 
Petro is among its strongest critics.

   The U.S. strikes against alleged drug-carrying vessels in the Caribbean Sea 
and Eastern Pacific have killed more than 60 people since September. Petro has 
called the deaths "extrajudicial executions" and has identified at least one of 
the killed as a Colombian citizen. One of two known survivors of the attacks is 
also Colombian.

   "What are we doing with this meeting in today's world amidst missiles?" 
Petro asked attendees in his inaugural remarks after mentioning the war in Gaza 
and the strikes obliterating the vessels. He then added that his wish was for 
the summit "to be a beacon of light amidst the barbarity."

   But the relevance of the summit in the northern Colombia city of Santa Marta 
has come into question because of the absence of heads of state and senior 
officials, including European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, and 
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz.

   Colombia's Foreign Ministry has attributed the issue to scheduling conflicts 
with a United Nations climate summit and has sought to downplay concerns by 
highlighting the presence of Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Snchez and Brazilian 
President Luiz Incio Lula da Silva.

   Following Petro's remarks, some leaders highlighted the increase in trade 
between the regions and joint progress in digital connectivity programs, the 
green transition, social development and artificial intelligence.

   "We choose dialogue, not division; we choose cooperation, not confrontation; 
we choose partnership, not isolation. And in this multipolar world of ours, 
what is needed is a multilateral response," European Council President Antnio 
Costa said without mentioning the attacks on the vessels.

   Lula surprised observers Wednesday by announcing that he would attend the 
summit even though Brazil was hosting the COP30 climate conference. Brazilian 
Foreign Minister Mauro Vieira told reporters that Lula's decision to attend the 
summit in Colombia reflects regional solidarity with Venezuela.

   Brazilian Ambassador Gisela Padovan, secretary for Latin America and the 
Caribbean, said Thursday that addressing U.S. President Donald Trump's threats 
of military action against Venezuela and recent boat strikes in the Caribbean 
would be a natural topic at the summit.

   "It's clear that the topic will come up, because the Venezuelan delegation 
will bring it up," Padovan said. However, she didn't tell reporters whether the 
gathering's final statement would include the issue.

   Lula has urged Latin American nations to help prevent conflict in Venezuela. 
On Tuesday, he told reporters that he had also urged Trump during their meeting 
last month in Malaysia to follow the example of former U.S. President George W. 
Bush, who participated in efforts to pacify Venezuela following a 2002 coup 
attempt against then President Hugo Chvez.

   "I told Trump that Latin America is a region of peace," Lula said.

   Alexander Main, international policy director at the Center for Economic and 
Policy Research think tank, said the gathering in Colombia is the last 
high-level multilateral summit to be held in the region in 2025 following the 
postponement of the Summit of the Americas. This could make it easier for 
governments to frankly address the central issue of military deployment, given 
that the United States isn't a party to the summit.

   "It is clearly a priority for several regional leaders," Main said.