Brussels, 9 November 2025 (dpa/MIA) - Leaders from the European Union and the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) gather on Sunday in Colombia for their fourth summit, aimed at strengthening cooperation on energy, climate change and international security.

Among those to attend the two-day talks in the coastal city of Santa Marta are Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas and Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez.

Together, the EU and CELAC represent more than 1 billion people, accounting for 14% of the world's population and 21% of global economic output.

The meeting's guest list is notably thin, however. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen is skipping, as are the leaders of Germany, France, Mexico, Argentina and Chile.

Colombian President Gustavo Petro, the host, plans to raise the issue of deadly US military strikes against alleged drug-smuggling boats in the Caribbean — a contentious issue that may explain some absences as leaders seek to avoid drawing Washington's ire.

US forces have repeatedly sunk high-speed vessels allegedly used by traffickers in recent weeks off the coast of Venezuela.

The growing US military presence in the region has fuelled concern that the Trump administration may be laying the groundwork for an operation aimed at pushing the authoritarian government of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro out of power.

Washington also imposed sanctions on Petro last month, accusing him of lacking determination in the fight against drug cartels.

Photo: archive