President Joe Biden kicks off a summit on Wednesday that was conceived as a platform to showcase U.S. leadership in reviving Latin American economies and tackling migratory pressures, but has instead been undermined by discord over the guest list.
Biden’s plan to unveil a package to spur recovery in Latin America, help stem immigration and counter China’s growing regional economic clout has been marred by a partial boycott by leaders upset at Washington’s decision to exclude Cuba, Venezuela and Nicaragua from the summit. […]
Diplomatic cracks yawned wide this week when Washington opted not to invite Communist-run Cuba and the leftist governments of Venezuela and Nicaragua, arguing their record on human rights and democracy made it impossible.
Rebuffed in his demand that all countries must be invited, Mexico’s president said he would stay away, deflecting attention away from Biden’s goals and toward regional divisions.
The leaders of Guatemala and Honduras, two of the countries that send most migrants to the United States, also said they would not go, undermining efforts by Biden officials to craft a ”declaration” on joint plans to address the phenomenon.
Still, leaders from more than 20 countries in the region will attend, including Canada, Brazil and Argentina, organizers said. Läs artikel