The EU’s first major summit with Latin American and Caribbean countries in eight years has been overshadowed by disputes over a declaration on the war in Ukraine. Several states have ensured that the text contains no explicit condemnation of the war and does not even mention Russia.
The aim of the EU was to send a clear signal to Russian President Vladimir Putin with the summit statement. It should be clear that he is becoming more and more isolated in the world community and must fear further economic disadvantages if the war of aggression continues. The hope was that powerful Latin American countries such as Brazil would influence smaller states at the summit meeting to persuade them to condemn Russia’s war of aggression. But in the end the blockade by Venezuela, Nicaragua and Cuba, among others, could not be removed.
The minimum consensus of the top
Only collectively can it be said that the ongoing war against Ukraine causes enormous human suffering and, for example, increases existing vulnerabilities in the global economy. That the majority of the summit participants condemned Russia for the war of aggression was made clear only indirectly by reference to the corresponding resolutions of the United Nations General Assembly.
Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar said before the negotiations broke down that a large majority of the summit participants supported a declaration that Ukraine has the right to territorial integrity and self-determination. However, at a summit like the one in Brussels, the wording of statements is determined by consensus and not by majority decision. This means that a declaration can only be made if no one objects.
Will there be a reward from Moscow now?
It is unclear whether Russia’s allies can expect a reward from Moscow for their steadfastness in Brussels. In the past, there were repeated offers of help from Moscow for the three countries – sometimes also in the military field. Venezuela also received arms.
Source: Krone
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