Venezuelan Delegation to Force Discussion on US Strikes, Brazil Confirms

The Venezuelan delegation is poised to play a central role at the EU-CELAC summit, with Brazilian diplomats confirming they expect their counterparts to “bring up” the issue of US military actions. Brazilian Ambassador Gisela Padovan stated that addressing US President Donald Trump’s threats against Venezuela, as well as the recent deadly boat strikes in the Caribbean, would be a “natural topic” at the meeting in Santa Marta.
This confirmation from Brazil, the region’s most powerful nation, essentially guarantees that the summit will become a tribunal on US foreign policy. It also explains the surprise attendance of Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, whose foreign minister, Mauro Vieira, explicitly linked the visit to showing “regional solidarity with Venezuela.”
This solidarity movement is converging with the parallel outrage from the summit’s host, Colombia. President Gustavo Petro is condemning a separate US anti-drug operation that has killed over 60 people, including a Colombian citizen. Petro’s “extrajudicial executions” accusation provides a powerful echo to Venezuela’s own grievances, creating a united front of criticism.
Lula has already been working to de-escalate the Venezuelan situation, revealing he recently advised President Trump to follow the diplomatic path of George W. Bush. By telling Trump that “Latin America is a region of peace,” Lula is trying to establish a regional doctrine of non-intervention, which is likely to be a core theme of the summit.
With the US not in attendance and top EU officials like Ursula von der Leyen also absent, the summit’s agenda is being rewritten. The planned “Declaration of Santa Marta” on energy and food security is now a footnote. The main event will be the discussion forced by the Venezuelan delegation, backed by Brazil and Colombia, to “frankly address” and condemn US military actions in the hemisphere.