Leaders from the European Union and Latin America concluded a summit on Tuesday (July 18) to celebrate their economic ties and investments.
However, instead of being a positive gathering, the leaders became frustrated because they couldn’t agree on a statement about Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
The European Union strongly supports Ukraine, while many Latin American countries are more distant or neutral on the issue. This difference in opinions became the main focus of the summit, overshadowing the discussions on economic cooperation.
The disagreement stemmed from Nicaragua’s refusal to join other nations in criticising the war in Ukraine.
This caused disappointment among the leaders, and the lack of a unified statement dampened the overall mood of the meeting.
Speaking after the summit, French President Emmanuel Macron said: “All the select members are aligned except Nicaragua. I do respect the internal process not to outvote just one member.”
In Brussels, right-wing MEPs also expressed their condemnation and disappointment over Nicaragua’s decision.
In a note sent to Express.co.uk, Lega MEP Marco Campomenosi said: “The failure of Managua to adhere to the conclusions of the summit between the EU and the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States, in which concern is expressed about the war, unfortunately does not surprise us: Nicaragua confirms itself as a Sandinista regime of a communist nature, i.e. an enemy of freedom and of peace, which represses democracy and religious freedom by arresting political opponents and priests on false charges of conspiracy.”
He added: “Today the regime in Managua demonstrates not only that it is a dictatorship that gives hospitality to fleeing terrorists, but also that it does nothing to contribute to peace in Ukraine and international stability, overcoming bad examples such as Cuba and Venezuela in terms of extremism: here is the truth face of communist dictatorships for too long pampered or defended by the left in Europe and in the world.”
The joint statement that was supposed to be issued at the end of the summit would have expressed concern about the ongoing war, but it fell short of the EU’s desired clear condemnation of Russia.
This issue had already been widely discussed and voted on in various international institutions.
Apart from the Ukraine conflict, there were other differences between the EU and Latin American countries. While the EU focused on economic initiatives and countering Chinese influence, some Latin American leaders brought up historical grievances related to colonialism and slavery.
These disagreements and distractions hindered progress on trade agreements, such as the EU-Mercosur deal, which saw little advancement during the summit. However, Latin American countries felt more confident due to increased Chinese investments and the recognition of their important raw materials for the EU.
The previous summit between the EU and Latin America took place in 2015, and since then, factors like the COVID-19 pandemic and Brazil’s temporary departure from the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States had created a sense of distance. The next summit is already planned for 2025 in Colombia.
