Petro and Lula: A Powerful Alliance Against US Military Actions

A powerful new alliance is shaping the EU-CELAC summit, as the host, Colombian President Gustavo Petro, finds a crucial partner in Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. Together, the leaders of two of South America’s most significant nations are steering the summit’s focus squarely onto US military actions, forming a potent bloc that is overshadowing all other agenda items.
Petro set the confrontational tone by fiercely condemning a US anti-drug operation that has killed over 60 people, including a Colombian citizen. His repeated use of the term “extrajudicial executions” has made the operation the summit’s number one topic. His position is one of a national leader demanding justice for his people.
Lula, in a surprise visit, is providing the regional and ideological reinforcement. His delegation has explicitly stated he is in Santa Marta to show “regional solidarity with Venezuela,” which is facing its own military threats from US President Donald Trump. This move broadens Petro’s specific grievance into a wider, regional condemnation of US interventionism.
This “Petro-Lula axis” is now the summit’s center of gravity. Lula’s recent diplomacy, where he personally urged Trump to seek peace and follow George W. Bush’s 2002 playbook, adds a strategic layer to their shared position. His declaration that “Latin America is a region of peace” is a motto for this new alliance.
This powerful partnership has completely sidelined the summit’s official purpose: the signing of the “Declaration of Santa Marta” on renewable energy and technology. It has also highlighted the weakness of the European delegation, which is missing its top leaders. With Petro and Lula leading the charge, the summit has transformed into a council of regional sovereignty.