Left-wing leaders are meeting in Barcelona to form an anti-American bloc, analysts say

MEXICO CITY: The recent high-profile meeting of left-wing leaders in Barcelona, ​​convened by Spanish Socialist Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, is drawing increasing attention to what analysts describe as a broader geopolitical positioning that could challenge US influence across Latin America and beyond.

The summit brought together Brazilian President Lula da Silva, Colombia’s Gustavo Petro and Mexico’s Claudia Sheinbaum. Designed as a platform for addressing inequality, climate change and the rise of right-wing political movements, the resulting rhetoric has raised questions in Washington and across the region about whether a more coordinated political counterbalance to the United States is emerging.

Without naming the Trump administration, Sánchez warned of the “normalization of the use of force” and “attempts to undermine international law,” in criticism of US foreign policy. He also urged reforms of global institutions, arguing that the current system no longer reflects today’s geopolitical realities, a position that implicitly challenges long-standing American leadership in those bodies.

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“This positioning is particularly complex given Spain’s structural anchorage in both the European Union and NATO, which traditionally align the country closely with Washington. However, Sánchez has simultaneously deepened ties with the South, evidenced by his growing proximity to China, as well as to leaders such as Lula, Sheinbaum and Petro, indicating a dual-track policy seeking greater autonomy from US influence,” Soto said.

The Colombian leader linked global tensions directly to economic and energy systems, arguing that dependence on fossil fuels has fueled conflict and inequality, an argument that echoes broader criticism of Western-led economic models.

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Chinese President Xi Jinping and Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez shake hands before their meeting in Beijing, China, September 9, 2024 (China Daily via Reuters)

“Petro declared that ‘Latin American progressivism is a ray of hope for a humanity in crisis.’ Yet these potential spokespeople for democracy have supported such inhumane, brutal dictatorships as Cuba, Nicaragua, Maduro’s Venezuela, Iran and others. This gathering is more aptly characterized as a political mascara of electoral autocracies, with each leader undermining the institutional checks and balances of open liberal democracies,” he said.

Brazil’s Lula criticized what he described as interventionist policies by the major powers and called for a new balance in global governance, including changes to the UN Security Council. At one point he characterized recent US leadership as contributing to global instability, reinforcing a central theme of the summit: that the current international order must be redefined.

President Donald Trump, center, President Luis Abinader of the Dominican Republic, second from left, Argentina’s President Javier Milei, El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele, Guyana’s President Mohamed Irfaan Ali, Costa Rica’s President Rodrigo Chaves Robles, Bolivia’s President Rodrigo Paz and Chile’s President-elect Jose Antonio Kast pose for a family photo during the Shield of the Americas Summit in Doral, Florida, on Saturday, March 7 2026. (Kevin Lamarque/Reuters)

“When the global progressive left turns against the United States, talks of sovereignty and peace, or speaks out against war, they do not do so purely out of altruism or good intentions. Rather, they are driven by a shadowy self-interest: ensuring that China continues to colonize our nations, a process that is apparently already well underway.”

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Mexico’s Sheinbaum underlined the principle of national sovereignty and reiterated Latin America’s long-standing emphasis on non-intervention. She joined other leaders in opposing sanctions on countries like Cuba, demonstrating a willingness to coordinate positions that diverge sharply from U.S. policy in the region.

Taken together, analysts say the reports from Barcelona point to the early stages of a loosely connected bloc, one increasingly willing to challenge U.S. positions on global governance, regional policy and economic strategy.

Chile has elected right-wing leader Jose Kast as president. (Juan González/Reuters)

But even as leaders in Barcelona warn of a growing right-wing threat, political realities across America tell a different story, one that may resonate more directly with the American public.

In Argentina, sweeping economic reforms focused on deregulation and fiscal discipline have attracted global attention as an alternative to state-led models. In El Salvador, aggressive security policies have dramatically reduced violence. And in Ecuador, there is a renewed focus on public order and institutional control in response to escalating cartel violence.

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Analysts say these examples counterbalance the Barcelona story, in that a significant part of the region is moving toward policies focused on security, market reforms and stronger state authority – priorities that often align more closely with U.S. strategic interests.

Experts say the contrast is striking. On the one hand, a group of leaders in Barcelona are calling for a rethink of global systems long associated with American leadership. On the other hand, governments across the hemisphere are experimenting with approaches that emphasize economic liberalization and strong security measures.