This blog explores the geopolitical impact of the U.S. military operation in Venezuela and Nicolás Maduro’s capture, arguing it has not advanced democratic transition. Through the lens of peripheral realism, it shows how Latin American states and the EU largely avoided confronting Washington, prioritizing strategic and economic interests. It highlights regional fragmentation, opportunistic alignment with U.S. power, weak multilateral responses, and calls for coordinated, cond

The world is undergoing a profound geopolitical and economic reconfiguration that is reshaping foreign policy and international relations. In this emerging multipolar system—marked by interdependence and uncertainty—the EU has intensified its search for reliable partners to secure critical resources and strengthen strategic autonomy. In this context, MERCOSUR, and Argentina in particular, emerges as a key partner due to its energy resources, lithium reserves, and green hydrog

Held in Belém in November 2025, COP30 marked ten years since the Paris Agreement and the completion of its first full implementation cycle. In a context of geopolitical turbulence and weakening international cooperation, the conference reaffirmed multilateralism as a central pillar of climate governance, underscored the urgency of scaling up climate finance, and highlighted persistent challenges related to transparency, implementation, and the integration of non-state actors.

Relations between the EU and Mercosur date back decades, with the 1990s Framework Agreement enabling negotiations for an Association Agreement. Talks came close in 2004 and again in 2019, but shifting political priorities, protectionism, and later the EU Green Deal stalled progress. Relaunched in 2023–2024 amid geopolitical tensions, negotiations concluded in December 2024, though ratification faced renewed political obstacles within the EU.

Two years after the last CELAC-EU Summit, leaders met in Santa Marta in 2025 and delivered a significant outcome: the launch of a Bi-regional Pact on Care. Endorsed by all EU member states and 16 Latin American and Caribbean countries, the non-binding declaration advances care as a political priority to address structural gender inequalities. The Pact reflects sustained civil society engagement and builds on regional and global frameworks to deepen bi-regional cooperation on

The 2025 CELAC–EU Summit in Santa Marta took place amid low attendance and geopolitical turbulence, yet advanced a broader and more ambitious bi-regional agenda. Despite fragmentation within CELAC, the declaration expanded cooperation on governance, security, digital issues and care, signalling resilience in the partnership and a commitment to deepen ties ahead of the 2027 Brussels summit.

Anna Ayuso examines how global shifts and shrinking aid budgets are reshaping EU–LAC cooperation. It highlights the EU’s Global Gateway strategy, which seeks to mobilise major investment for green and digital transitions while advancing Europe’s geopolitical and economic interests. In LAC, this creates opportunities but also risks of extractivism, making transparency, equity and inclusive partnerships essential.

The early 21st century is marked by turbulence: U.S.–China rivalry, converging economic, energy, environmental, and geopolitical crises, and a sense of “permacrisis.” As conflicts intensify and global governance shifts, the energy transition emerges as a central axis reshaping power, sustainability, and cooperation—particularly in EU–MERCOSUR relations amid evolving green and geopolitical priorities.

Argentina’s “chainsaw plan” under President Milei has restored stability but at a high social cost. Inflation is down and fiscal order restored, yet poverty, inequality, and democratic erosion deepen. Europe’s quiet endorsement reveals a deeper dilemma — valuing predictability over principles. As elections near, Argentina tests not only its democracy but Europe’s claim to a values-based partnership.

Exploring the shifting dynamics between the European Union (EU) and the Andean Community (CAN), this article analyzes how geoeconomics and geopolitics are reshaping their partnership. As Europe pursues strategic autonomy and green transition goals, Andean nations face new opportunities and challenges. Can the EU–CAN relationship evolve from fragmented bilateralism toward a coherent, strategic alliance for sustainable development and regional integration?

The EU–LAC relationship, historically rooted in cooperation and shared values, is being redefined amid global uncertainty, geoeconomic reconfiguration, and trade disputes. With the EU advancing “open strategic autonomy” and LAC positioned as a key supplier for the green transition, both regions face the challenge of aligning strategic interests with developmental goals. The IV EU–CELAC Summit in Santa Marta will be a decisive moment to revitalise this biregional partnership.

At the BRICS summit, Latin America’s non-alignment stance showed its contradictions, writes Benedicte Bull. For real EU–Latin America collaboration, both sides must confront their hypocrisies—on Gaza, Ukraine, and global justice. The EU–CELAC summit is a chance to move beyond empty rhetoric and build a true multilateral partnership grounded in action, not just values.

In this blog piece, Carmen Fonseca examines Portugal’s inconsistent approach to Latin America, where ties—especially with Brazil—are shaped more by economic needs than strategic vision. She argues that despite rhetorical commitments, the region remains marginal in Portuguese foreign policy, with its relevance fluctuating in response to internal and European dynamics. This analysis challenges the idea of Portugal as a constant bridge between Europe and Latin America.

The EU-Mercosur relationship is one of the longest-standing interregional experiments, shaped by strategic interests, shifting power dynamics, and shared challenges. Despite diverging values and external pressures from actors like China and the U.S., this partnership remains a flexible yet vital tool for geopolitical balance. As global tensions rise, its strategic relevance may only grow in navigating a fragmented world order.