U.S. boat strikes overshadow summit

Representatives of European, Latin American and Caribbean nations began a two-day summit Sunday in Colombia to try to strengthen ties despite questions on the gathering’s relevance and divisions in the Western Hemisphere over the U.S. military attacks on alleged drug-carrying vessels.

- BY ASTRID SUÁREZ

THE PRESIDENTS of Brazil and Colombia hug at the meeting of EU, Caribbean and Latin leaders.

(LUIS ACOSTA AFP/Getty Images)

Colombian officials have indicated they will seek the signing of a declaration on renewable energy, food security, financing and technological cooperation at the end of the summit of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States and the European Union.

The deadly U.S. operation, however, will likely become a key point of discussion. Colombian President Gustavo Petro is among its strongest critics.

The U.S. strikes against alleged drug-carrying vessels in the Caribbean Sea and Eastern Pacific have killed more than 60 people since September. Petro has called the deaths “extrajudicial executions” and has identified at least one of those killed as a Colombian citizen. One of two known survivors of the attacks is also Colombian.

“What are we doing with this meeting in today’s world amidst missiles?” Petro asked attendees in his inaugural remarks after mentioning the war in Gaza and the American strikes obliterating the vessels. He then added that his wish was for the summit “to be a beacon of light amidst the barbarity.”