Summit of the Americas: Joe Biden opens the strong appointment of the meeting with the leaders of the continent

United States President Joe Biden will disembark in Los Angeles this Wednesday, shortly after local noon (Argentine afternoon), for formally open the Summit of the Americas in the afternoonthe appointment with the leaders of the continent that began with many problems and which risks ending in a failure of irrelevant decisions.

From midnight the Californian megalopolis airport was very busy with the leaders who have arrived from all over the region and accommodated in the various hotels of the center of the city, transformed into a swarm of policemen, concrete fences and black bars that block the circulation and turn the center into a real nightmare.

The formal appointment is at the convention center, where most of the activities take place. There, in the late afternoon, Biden will deliver a speech for the start of the leaders’ summit, even if forums for civil society and CEOs of companies interested in the region have already been active since Monday.

Biden will seek to revitalize a summit complicated by the absence of a key actor such as Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador, who opposed the exclusion from the meeting of the leaders of Cuba, Venezuela and Nicaragua, considered dictators by Biden’s government.

In addition, many other leaders have refused their presence like the Bolivian Luis Arce, the Guatemalan Alejandro Giammattei, the Honduran Xiomara Castro and the Salvadoran Nayib Bukele.

The absence of the leaders of the so-called “north triangle” It complicates the signing of key commitments on migration issues, something the United States fervently seeks because it does not want more migrants to seep into its territory from those countries via Mexico.

Democratic values ​​VS autocracies

Biden will try to focus his message promote democratic values and good governance, which has been a central component of the summits, and which now take on more value in situations such as that of Cuba, Venezuela and Nicaragua.

“Our administration and partners will undo threats to our democracies by strengthening democratic institutions, investing in civil society, strengthening independent media and moving forward with a regional digital transformation that is transparent and equitable,” the White House said in a statement. . a declaration.

They will also advance on issues of financial transparency, justice reform and the fight against corruption.

Another of the announcements that Biden will make is investments in civil society, to what they call “an essential component of democracy” and will say the White House will invest roughly 75 million dollars for three years a 300 local organizations community-led initiatives to empower local civil society organizations.

Additionally, USAID will launch the Initiative voices (Voces) interinstitutional, dedicating 42 million dollars to protect, defend and promote civic space in Central America.

“These programs will focus on promoting digital democracy and fight against digital authoritarianism; promoting freedom of expression and strengthening independent media and the fight against criminalization and protection, ”says the White House.

Average

Biden will also announce the promotion of independent media and integrity of information: The United States has joined Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Panama, Peru and Uruguay as inaugural members of the OAS Group of Friends of Freedom of Expression and Journalism and will work with these countries to address attacks to the media and efforts to silence critical voices.

Additionally, Biden will also announce a Global Alliance for Action on Aonline gender-based harassment and abuse.

the American president it does not seem capable of expressing a clear and powerful initiative for Latin America and this difficulty will perhaps be expressed in the final statement of the Summit on Friday, although it is very likely that no consensus will be reached to approve it and only a statement with some general formulations will be issued.

Migration

Beyond the difficulties, Biden also tries to sign a document on migrationan issue that is not on the agenda but is vital for the White House, especially in an election year in which he does not want to have migratory caravans arriving in the country.

It is doubtful whether a consensus can be reached on this issue without the more involved presidents such as the Mexican, Guatemalan, Honduran and Salvadoran presidents. However, US officials swear the initiative could be treated the same way low-ranking representatives send those countries to Los Angeles.

Before the formal opening speech, Biden will appear on the Jimmy Kimmel show. On Thursday, the president will speak at the plenary of leaders e will have some bilateral, including one with the Brazilian Jair Bolsonaro. On Friday the family photo will be taken and there will be a lunch with the leaders.

Before leaving, always keeping an eye on the legislative elections in November, he will participate in two events a collect money for the democratic campaign.

Los Angeles, special correspondent