The fifth Amazon Countries Summit was inaugurated on August 22, 2025, in Bogotá, Colombia, with a collective call to protect the Amazon rainforest. Key leaders including Colombian President Gustavo Petro, Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, and Bolivian President Luis Arce participated, emphasizing regional cooperation. Petro urged South American nations to form a united front against narcotrafficking, describing it as the "enemy of the Amazon." Guyana also called for regional unity to combat the Cartel de los Soles, a narcotrafficking organization linked to Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and designated as a terrorist group by the United States. Paraguay officially designated the Cartel de los Soles as an international terrorist organization, aligning with the U.S. stance. Guyana expressed grave concern over the threat posed by transnational organized crime and narcoterrorism to regional peace, democracy, and security, committing to work with partners to address these challenges. Venezuelan Foreign Minister Yván Gil highlighted the summit’s conclusion with a common position to defend the Amazon and reported bilateral meetings with counterparts from Brazil and Colombia to discuss regional security and the impact of U.S. tariffs. The summit also addressed geopolitical tensions, with Petro warning that narcotrafficking is being used as a pretext for military invasion, referencing U.S. naval deployments near Venezuela ordered by former President Donald Trump. Regional leaders reiterated the importance of cooperation to confront the narcoterrorism threat posed by the Cartel de los Soles and its impact on neighboring countries.