Summit of the Americas: the United States pirouettes so that the “continental party” does not become a nightmare

The quote is intended as a party for the continentbut becomes a nightmare for America: Joe Biden’s government is looking for last minute arrangements prevent the Summit of the Americas, which will take place in Los Angeles between June 8 and 10, from being a resounding failure.

The most pressing problem arose in the guest list. The State Department has informed (formal invitations have not been issued) that they will not be included Venezuela, Cuba and Nicaragua, for failing to meet democratic parameters.

Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador warned that he would not go to Los Angeles if all presidents were not invited.

the same was done the Bolivian Louis Arce. It also happened that Brazilian Jair Bolsonaro -who has a distant relationship with Biden- will not travel because he is focused on the presidential election. People in the Caribbean are threatening not to go. Guatemala was not included on Tuesday. Several countries in the region – Argentina as president of CELAC – have requested the presence of all the continent’s leaders.

special missions

But the White House has not yet issued formal invitations and, as he found out ClarionI’m delaying the announcement to try avoid possible boycotts and failures of the summit with special missions and dialogues with the most rebellious countries.

This Wednesday, former Democratic senator Christopher Dodd, a man who fully trusts Biden who was appointed envoy for the Summit of the Americas, nearly met with Mexican president López Obrador to settle differences and convince him to travel.

“We will receive them with great pleasure,” the Mexican said. “And we’ll explain why we believe we should all be united,” he explained, adding that it would be “extraordinary” to inaugurate a new stage “without confrontation or discrimination”.

Help and investment

Dodd traveled a few days ago to Barbados to meet with representatives of the Caribbean community (CARICOM) to listen to their needs andEncourage them to travel to Los Angeles. Sources said Clarion that the US has been able to soften the Caribbean’s position on the promises of assistance and investment.

Although officially denied, some experts believe that the recent U.S. easing of sanctions on Cuba and Venezuela – which has angered Republicans in Congress – is a gesture intended to give way to the summit.

Former Congresswoman Debbie Mucarsel-Powell, special adviser for the Summit of the Americas to the U.S. Government, said Tuesday at a Hemispheric Security conference organized in Miami that “diplomatic talks happen every day,” to bring everything to the table in Los Angeles.

But he pointed out that countries “do not want to commit to democracy and violate human rights” They are not “likely” to be invited.

As for those who conditioned their assistance, the official admitted that there are methods.

“Will they go to the top at the end? ako very muchI didn’t despair until the last moment, I was very optimistic. We had positive dialogues with the leaders of those governments from different areas. We have allies in the region who are in dialogue with them. So yes, I am hopeful, ”the official said.

Without the leaders of Mexico and Braziltwo regional powers, the summit will be very undervalued. And key issues for the region and the United States, such as trade, immigration and climate change, would be addressed without two major players.

“It’s for President Biden very important that the president of Mexico was there, one of our biggest trade allies in the region and also because of our share of the border. It is important for López Obrador to participate, to help us prevent the bleeding of democracy in the region, ”said Biden’s adviser.

Regarding Brazil’s participation, he is optimistic: “There may be opportunity for Bolsonaro to get to the summit. Much of what you read and see is not exactly what they tell us. But it is not known. I don’t want to guarantee anything, we are having conversations, “he added.

“The summit will be effective and we will succeed if we have most of the countries in the region participating and we can have firm implementation of the agreements we have reached, that is very important ”, he pointed out.

Juan González, Biden’s adviser for Latin America, taught at the same conference that the Summit was “an event for open debate,” but “sometimes people don’t show up to help shape the agenda. make sure people in the region are interested in coming. ”But, he added:“Those who want to put on a show will do”.

Washington, correspondent

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