Geopolitical Risks for the European Union in Latin America and the Caribbean

Summary The relationship between Europe and Latin America has a long history; a common historical past unites both regions, traditions, culture, migratory flows and, in some cases, language. The bilateral relationship has deepened over the years in different political, economic, commercial and social areas, among others. It has been channelled through various formal instances of dialogue and exchange, including the CELAC-EU Summits. The current international context, characterized by uncertainty, generates competition, cooperation, and interdependence relations. This article addresses the risks faced by the European Union in its relations with Latin America, mainly based on the war in Ukraine and with an approach based on the theory of complex interdependence. In order to identify the EU’s reaction to the risks with LAC, a database of legal acts of the European bloc corresponding to the years 2022 and 2024 was assembled. All regulations, directives, and decisions approved by the EU during that period were reviewed, identifying which ones regulate the region or any Latin American and Caribbean country. The conclusion is that, out of the 1,627 legal acts approved during this period, very little of the approved legislation is directly related to Latin America.