A low attendance is reportedly expected due to Washington’s increasingly aggressive stance in the region. US President Donald Trump takes a question from a reporter aboard Air Force One on October 27, 2025, in flight. © Getty Images / Andrew Harnik

Several European leaders have withdrawn from a planned meeting between EU, Latin American, and Caribbean officials, citing concerns over tensions with U.S. President Donald Trump, according to the Financial Times. The summit, scheduled in Santa Marta, Colombia, follows Trump’s recent sanctions against Colombian President Gustavo Petro and orders for military action against suspected narcotics vessels in the Caribbean.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, and French President Emmanuel Macron have opted out of the EU-CELAC summit next week. Their decisions come after Trump accused Petro of being an “illegal drug dealer” and launched strikes on maritime targets. EU officials, reliant on U.S. military and intelligence support for Ukraine, reportedly fear jeopardizing a fragile trade agreement by provoking Trump.

A European Commission spokesperson stated von der Leyen would not attend due to conflicting priorities and low turnout, while Berlin cited similar reasoning for Merz’s absence. The Elysee Palace declined to elaborate on Macron’s decision. A senior Latin American official described the event as facing “last-minute cancellations,” calling the situation “very complicated.” Bloomberg reported that only five European leaders and three Latin American and Caribbean counterparts have confirmed attendance.

Trump has escalated U.S. naval presence in the Caribbean, claiming it targets drug trafficking and pressures Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro. The move follows sanctions against Petro, intensifying US-Colombia tensions. Petro alleged Washington seeks to undermine the summit, accusing authorities of deploying “anti-democratic fossil geopolitics” to block regional cooperation.

Colombian Deputy Foreign Minister Mauricio Jaramillo dismissed claims of U.S. interference, stating the cancellations were unrelated to Washington’s actions and asserting, “Colombia is not isolated.” Brazil’s Lula da Silva and Spain’s Pedro Sanchez are set to attend, alongside European Council President Antonio Costa, who will co-chair the meeting.

The EU-CELAC summit, involving 50 nations and 21% of global GDP, aims to address trade ties and organized crime.