EU and Latin American leaders hold a summit hoping to rekindle relationship with long-lost friends
European Union and Latin American leaders are gathering for a major summit of long-lost relatives BRUSSELS -- Leaders from the European Union and Latin America were gathering for a major summit of long-lost relatives starting on Monday. Whether it will be a joyful meeting of long-lost friends remains to be seen. Their last such encounter was eight years ago. Since then, the COVID-19 pandemic and Brazil's three-year departure from the 33-nation Community of Latin American and Caribbean States — or CELAC — had made the Atlantic Ocean separating the two sides seem wider. “The world has certainly changed during that time," said EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. “So we need our close friends to be at our side in these uncertain times.” Yet, uncertainty still swirled around the two-day summit , too. Division ranging from Russia's war in Ukraine to trade, deforestation and slavery reparations has given extra spice to a meeting that will now already be considered a s...