Editor's note: Rong Xiaolan, a special commentator on current affairs for CGTN, is a Ph.D. candidate in International Relations and Global Governance, at the Institute for Social and Cultural Research, Macao University of Science and Technology.The article reflects the author's opinions and not necessarily the views of CGTN.

The Europe Union is seeking to regain influence in Latin America as EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell declared last year that 2023 should be "the year of Latin America in Europe and of Europe in Latin America."

After the eight-year absence of dialogue at the highest political level, the two regions are holding their third summit of the EU and Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) in Brussels from July 17 to 18. The summit "marks a new beginning for an old friendship," said President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen during the meeting.

The EU-LAC relationship has stagnated over the past eight years, due to the diversity of political stances, economic and trade imbalances, and cultural differences. Since the outbreak of the Russia-Ukraine conflict in February last year, as well as the intensified Sino-U.S. competition, the CELAC has been increasingly significant for the EU's layout of strategic security.

On the one hand, the conflict between Russia and Ukraine has threatened energy security in Europe. Latin American countries are important producers and suppliers of energy and raw materials for the EU, including oil, natural gas, and lithium. On the other hand, a close relationship with CELAC is conducive to the EU's greater implementation of its own will in international affairs.  

Ahead of the EU-CELAC summit, Spain, the current rotating presidency of the Council of the EU, intended to invite Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to attend the summit, but this proposal has been rejected by leaders of most CELAC countries. Furthermore, Latin American countries have deleted the paragraphs on support of Ukraine in their joint statement drafted by the EU, refusing to side with Ukraine.

In the case of the EU, its leaders reaffirm their unity in support of Ukraine at the European Council meeting at the end of June. The EU has already offered political, humanitarian, and military aid for Ukraine and suppressed Russia through a series of strict sanctions. Therefore, the EU expects to draw Latin American states to its side through the landmark summit, jointly sanctioning Russia to support Ukraine in the conflict.

However, the CELAC pushed back the EU-drafted declaration and advocated a peaceful solution to the Russia-Ukraine conflict instead. On this issue, the CELAC  refuses to blindly follow the West on account of geopolitics, economic, and security considerations. Geographically, Latin America and the Caribbean are far away from the center of the European military conflicts; hence, the Russia-Ukraine conflict poses little threat to its regional traditional security.

Furthermore, the CELAC is composed of developing countries, which possess limited domestic markets and depend on the exterior one, so there is a high cost and risk of blindly standing in line with great powers. Although the economic development of Latin America is inseparable from the support of the United States and the EU, the region also relies on Russian fertilizers and grain imports. For example, more than 80 percent of Nicaragua's grains come from Russia. Therefore, no matter supporting Russia or Ukraine, Latin American economies will face huge blows and unknown risks in the future.

Due to the decline in exports from Ukraine and Russia, Latin America's energy and agricultural market has been significantly expanded. In 2022, Brazil received a trade surplus of $62 billion, and the exports of oil and natural gas soar in Peru and Colombia as well.

Unlike the U.S. and the EU, which consider suppressing and punishing Russia as the main objective, the CELAC emphasizes that seeking coordination and a peaceful solution to the conflict should be the priority under the spirit of multilateralism. In other words, ending the conflict is more important than just sanctioning Russia.

States in the third world should maintain their autonomy in international affairs and firmly grasp their destiny in their own hands, instead of blindly following the Western powers, to avoid falling victim to the confrontation between great powers. Therefore, it is wise for the CELAC to remain neutral on the Russia-Ukraine conflict.

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