El País de España The Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) and the European Union avoided mentioning the U.S. military’s actions in the Caribbean in their final document, opting to define the area as a “zone of peace.” Several regional leaders, particularly Gustavo Petro of Colombia and Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva of Brazil, pushed for a “maritime security zone” but faced resistance from countries aligned with the U.S. The differing responses highlight how national interests and relationships with the U.S. shape each country’s foreign policy.

• CELAC and EU summit defined the Caribbean as a “zone of peace” but omitted any mention of U.S. military actions.
• Colombia and Brazil advocated for a “maritime security zone” in the Caribbean.
• Several countries, including Argentina, Ecuador, Paraguay, El Salvador, and Costa Rica, did not sign the maritime security article due to U.S. alignment.
• Colombia, sharing a long border with Venezuela, is significantly impacted by the U.S. military escalation and the Venezuelan refugee crisis.
• Brazil is concerned about U.S. military actions and has offered mediation, emphasizing the senselessness of war.
• Mexico has reached an agreement with the U.S. for its Navy to intercept suspected “narcolanchas” in international waters to prevent further U.S. bombings.
• Argentina has severed ties with Venezuela and its president, Javier Milei, has strongly criticized Nicolás Maduro, aligning foreign policy with U.S. interests.