The clock has started clicking. We are fast approaching the second edition of the Schuman Security and Defence Forum, which will take place in Brussels on 28-29 May. It is the EU’s flagship meeting dedicated to engage with global partners in the areas of peace, security and defence.

Building the next Schuman Security and Defence Forum with global partners

With Chile, the EU had the honour to launch the “Road to Schuman” events, a series of meetings across different continents to pave the way for the Forum in May. In Santiago, the Ministry of Foreign Relations of Chile and the EU Delegation to Chile gathered more than 80 leaders and policy experts to exchange ideas on transnational organized crime and the impact of climate change on security and defence.

European Union, 2024

Organized by EU Delegations, the ‘Road to Schuman’ events will gather high-level representatives from partner countries in different regions, members of the diplomatic community and local leading think-tanks/academia in the field of peace, security and defence.

The EU wants to listen to partners’ concerns and approaches on these issues and the conversations at these events will inform the discussions of the Schuman Forum in May. In addition to Chile, “Road to Schuman” events will be held also in Canada, India, Jordan, Moldova and Nigeria.

Regions and countries that are geographically far apart, but share many common security challenges

We live in a single security theatre. What happens in one region or on one continent often directly affects another. In this interconnected world, strengthening peace, security and defence partnerships is more needed than ever.

Dialogue and engagement with its partners is at the heart of how the EU sees its international role. In this regard, listening and engaging with its partners around the world will be one of the main objectives of the upcoming second edition of the Schuman Forum.

Security, peace and defence at the core of the relationship between the EU and Latin America and the Caribbean

The 2023 EU-CELAC Summit Declaration reaffirmed our common vision of a rule based peaceful international order was reaffirmed. In the previous Joint communication to the European Parliament and the Council “A New Agenda for Relations between the EU and Latin America and the Caribbean” the EU stressed that “EU and LAC face common challenges around security and justice, which call for strengthening the bi-regional partnership and cooperation at all levels”.

The EU established with LAC a consistent dialogue on security issues. The EU LAC Summit in July 2023 relaunched the cooperation and partnership on this complex topic. The EU, including its Member States, and LAC are developing a variety of platforms to ensure that there is a constant exchange of information between the two regions and to deepen collaboration on internal security issues. Examples of these fora include the EU-CLASI (Latin American Committee for Internal Security) Ministerial Meetings, and the EU-CELAC Coordination and Cooperation Mechanism on Drugs.

Several cooperation programs strengthen the operationalization of joint priorities in combatting transnational crime (such as EL PACCTO 2.0) and increasing maritime security (like CRIMARIO II). Addressing transnational organized crime is a priority for Latin America-EU cooperation, and a key feature of the bi-regional agenda with a view to the next EU-CELAC Summit in 2025, in Colombia.

Long standing cross-border challenges present new threats to security and defence

The Managing Director for Peace, Security and Defence of the European External Action Service, Benedikta Von Seherr-Thoss, stressed that "in security matters, the role of Latin American countries as strategic partners is unquestionable, and the participation of some countries from the region in our missions and crisis management operations is proof of our shared interests".

The Chilean Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs, Gloria de la Fuente, in her opening remarks recalled that "today, in this seminar, on the path towards the Schuman Forum to be celebrated at the end of May in Brussels, we will have the opportunity to discuss these challenges (like transnational organized crime) with a regional perspective focussing on critical issues and finding ways to achieve a coordinated response in the region".

The meeting continued with a discussion on trends in transnational organised crime, where panellists agreed that collaboration between countries is essential to address a major threat to stability, democracy and security in the region. During the event’s second panel on the impact of climate change on security, panellists noted that the security of countries in both Latin America and Europe is directly affected by climate change and discussed both emerging responses from states and the political challenges that can complicate the development of a more integrated approach.

The event ended with closing remarks from the EU and Chile. Quentin Weiler, Chargé d'Affaires a.i. of the EU in Chile, stressed the value of exchanging views between like-minded partners: “The EU and its partners face common threats, so a coordinated strategy is necessary to address them for the benefit of our respective citizens. This meeting, hosted by Chile, highlights our intention to strengthen bilateral and regional ties in a concrete way.”

Ambassador Ignacio Llanos, Head of the Directorate of International and Human Security at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, explained that “Chile recognizes the role of the EU as a relevant security and defence actor. For Chile dialogues such as the Schuman Forum are critical to facilitate understanding, to share points of view, and shape shared solutions […], as a country, we look forward to participating in the second edition of the Schuman forum in Brussels in May”.

A long standing and solid partnership with Chile

The EU very much values its long-standing strategic partnership with Latin America in general, and with Chile in particular. This relationship is based on shared principles, history and culture, as well as solid economic ties and common interests. This important partnership includes longstanding cooperation on a wide variety of issues, including security and defence. As an example, since 2004, Chile has stood with the EU as a longstanding contributor to the European Union Operation EUFOR Althea. Current milestones in the relationship also include the signing of the EU-Chile Advanced Framework Agreement and the launching of the first Dialogue on Security and Defence.

European Union, 2024

 Looking forward to the 2024 Schuman Security and Defense Forum

The second edition of the Schuman Security and Defence Forum will aim at shedding light on how ongoing and potential partnerships in peace, security and defence can respond to the most pressing common security threats and challenges. Enriched by the regional meeting in Chile, the Schuman Forum will also contribute to a collective reflection on global peace and security, and demonstrate our shared commitment to upholding a rules-based international order and multilateralism.

Please stay tuned on EEAS social media to follow the next events of the Road to Schuman Forum.