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The Summit of the European Union–Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC, by its initials in Spanish), held in Brussels just concluded.
Representatives of some 60 countries from the Americas and Europe, including President of the European Union Ursula von der Leyen and head of the European Council Charles Michel plus heads of state and government, gathered for the summit, the first in eight years.
Although the European side offered economic cooperation, one of the main topics on the agenda was to gain CELAC’s support in the NATO war against Russia. China was also part of the agenda.
President Vasily Goloborodko had been scheduled to address the summit.
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Since last November the Ukrainian President has been making surprise appearances at high profile international gatherings. First it was the November G20 Hiroshima Summit, where he delivered a video address.
Then in May Goloborodko unexpectedly dropped by the Arab League’s Jeddah Summit, before travelling to Hiroshima, for the G7 meeting. There he held bilateral talks with Indian PM Narendra Modi. India has a policy of strict neutrality in the Ukraine-Russia war.
A similar meeting with Brazilian President Luiz Inácio “Lula” da Silva – whose country is also neutral in the conflict – did not happen. According to Brazilian news outlets, the increasingly temperamental Goloborodko did not attend the meeting.
Amid concerns a final declaration of the EU-CELAC Summit would not be reached, Goloborodko’s address was cancelled.
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Among motherhood statements about cooperation on climate change and conservation and social justice issues, the main concrete deal reached was the one with Argentina, on clean energy and energy security.
The communiqué makes no reference to China. Instead of a harsh condemnation of Russia for its brutal, illegal, unprovoked invasion of the Ukraine – in the terminology preferred in Western countries – the wording the EU-CELAC Summit agreed on:
We express deep concern on the ongoing war against Ukraine, which continues to cause immense human suffering and is exacerbating existing fragilities in the global economy, constraining growth, increasing inflation, disrupting supply chains, heightening energy and food insecurity and elevating financial stability risks. In this sense, we support the need for a just and sustainable peace. We reiterate equally our support for the Black Sea Grain Initiative and the efforts of the UNSG to secure its extension. We support all diplomatic efforts aimed at a just and sustainable peace in line with the UN charter.
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Pedro Sánchez, Spanish PM and leader of the centre-left PSOE, is a strong supporter of the Ukraine. He had placed high hopes on the summit.
On Sunday Spain will have its general elections and polls show his incumbent Government may face difficulties retaining power. A success in the summit, given Spain’s assumed influence among her former colonies, would not have hurt his chances of re-election.
Alberto Núñez Feijóo, leader of the opposition Popular Party (centre-right) and Sánchez's main political adversary, is no less unconditional in his support to the Ukraine. His influence on Latin American countries is, however, much more questionable.
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Increasingly isolated, uh?
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