“Colombian social movements are organizing a Peoples’ Summit in Cartagena (...), to debate and build with our brothers and sisters of America a common position about the hemispheric relationship and the role of the US policy”, reads the public call. The idea is also to “submit our demands to governments, demanding the discussion of our positions at the 6th Summit and denounce the war policies of the US administration”.

Trade-union representatives, indigenous people, students, religious groups are among the Colombian social movements and organizations organizing the Peoples’ Summit.

The call states that the Americas Summits were created after an initiative by the US that sought to promote its approaches on free market and hemispheric security through the Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA). This commercial initiative was dropped at the official summit of 2005 in Mar del Plata, Argentina.

The Colombian networks highlight that in the past years the "differences between several governments and the agenda of the US government have been increasing". The especially make reference to the Bolivarian Alliance for the Americas (ALBA), the Union of South American countries (UNASUR) and the Community of Latin American and Caribbean states (CELAC) that exclude Canada and the US.

The organizers of the Cartagena Peoples’ Summit warn that US president, Barack Obama, continues to promote the traditional hegemonic position of his country in the region, including a strong military presence, despite his announcements on the contrary. His administration “advanced in the militarization of the Hemisphere, supported the Coup in Honduras and continues to support Porfirio Lobo’s illegitimate regime. It has radicalized the “war” against drug trafficking, which has only increased militarization and violence, it has not eliminated sanctions on Cuba and has not proposed changes to the migration laws of the country”.

Organizations such as the Colombian Workers Trade Union (CUT), the National Indigenous Organization of the country (ONIC) and the Colombian Action Network against Free Trade (RECALCA) warn that the national government "has deepen the dependence on the US".

President Juan Manuel Santos’ administration “supports the war policy” of the US “at world level” and in addition, it “deepens the economic model that has led numerous countries and the world to the serious crisis we are in”. The Colombian government is adamant, say the organizations, in implementing Free Trade Agreements (FTAs), “deepening the neoliberal policy of labor flexibilization, privatization of health, education and public services, land grabbing and financial speculation”, among other things.

According to the text written by the Colombian organizations, the direction of Santos’ administration "has resulted in the deepening of the social crisis, impoverishment, unemployment, displacement, food and cultural sovereignty loss, degradation of environment and desindustrialization".

The organizers are demanding the demilitarization of the continent, that governments reestablish the right of Cuba to participate in the official summit (several countries are pushing for this) and they demand the US to stop blocking the island and the hostility against those who don’t follow its “impositions”. The organizations demand “cooperation and mutual benefit” trade relationships to the detriment of FTAs and a “deepening” of the “processes of autonomous integration”.