Left-wing Latin American leaders will hold a summit in Santiago, Chile, for the “Defense of Democracy”. Hosted by Chile’s President Gabriel Boric, the event will be attended by Colombian President Gustavo Petro; Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva; Uruguayan President Yamandu Orsi; and Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez.
The summit, scheduled for next Monday, July 21, aims to “advance a shared position in favor of multilateralism, democracy, and global cooperation based on social justice,” according to a statement from the Chilean Presidency.
Hispanic Presidents to gather in Chile for democracy defense summit
The Chilean Presidency has confirmed that the country will host the “Democracy Always” summit on Monday, July 21. Several progressive leaders from across Latin America are expected to attend, along with Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez.
Among the invited heads of state are Colombian President Gustavo Petro, Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, Uruguayan leader Yamandú Orsi, and Sánchez himself.
According to a statement from the Chilean government, the high-level meeting aims to build a common front against today’s threats to democracy, including democratic backsliding, polarization, and the spread of disinformation.
The summit will take place in Santiago, Chile’s capital, and will focus on three central themes: strengthening multilateralism, reducing inequality, and regulating emerging technologies in the region.
The proposals developed during the summit will later be presented at the United Nations General Assembly in New York in September 2025.
“The meeting in Santiago continues the work of the first meeting of the initiative In defense of democracy, fighting extremism,’ organized in 2024 by the presidents of Brazil and Spain during the 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly,” concludes the Chilean statement.
Earlier this year, the five leftist presidents held an online meeting, vowing to fight extremism and other threats to democracy — an early rapprochement amid growing political polarization in Latin America and Europe.
Progressive presidents in South America: between consensus and differences
The progressive presidents of South America – Gustavo Petro (Colombia), Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva (Brazil), Gabriel Boric (Chile), and the recently elected Yamandu Orsi (Uruguay) – face similar challenges despite their differences. These challenges stem from the rise of populist far-right movements across the subcontinent and across the globe.
While they share a critical view of neoliberalism and promote inclusive social policies, their backgrounds and priorities reveal significant differences.
Lula, a historic figure of the Latin American left, focuses on diplomatic leadership and multilateralism. He employs a pragmatic approach seeking alliances even with business sectors.
Petro, conversely, is pushing for a structural transformation of Colombia’s economic model – one of the region’s traditionally most conservative countries – emphasizing energy transition and social justice. However, he faces enormous domestic resistance.
Gabriel Boric represents a young, feminist, and environmentalist left. He seeks to balance social reforms with respect for institutions. His approach has become more moderate following tensions during Chile’s constitutional process. His immediate and unequivocal rejection of Nicolas Maduro’s re-election last year in Venezuela stands out.
Orsi, heir to Uruguay’s Broad Front (Frente Amplio), combines progressive continuity with a conciliatory tone, focusing on issues like security, employment, and education.
Although united by a desire to reduce inequalities and strengthen democracy, their national contexts and leadership styles dictate the pace and scope of their projects.
Nevertheless, the emergence of populist far-right figures like Milei in Argentina, Bukele in El Salvador, or the earlier experience of Bolsonaro in Brazil, challenges these leaders, who are now seeking unity to confront these new ways of understanding and doing politics.