Overview
- Low leader turnout follows last‑minute cancellations, with Brazil’s Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and Spain’s Pedro Sánchez among the few high‑profile attendees.
- European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen withdrew at the last moment as observers reported scant diplomatic activity at the venue.
- Washington removed Colombia from a counternarcotics partner list and imposed economic sanctions on President Gustavo Petro.
- President Donald Trump’s naval campaign against alleged drug boats in the Caribbean and Pacific has reportedly left about 70 dead, drawing sharp criticism from Petro.
- The meeting is co‑presided by Petro and European Council President António Costa, and analysts expect limited outcomes beyond possible movement on the EU–Mercosur agenda.