Joe Biden on Wednesday insisted on the need to defend democracy and co-operate for more prosperity at the US-led summit, which was overshadowed by diplomatic disputes.
The American president considered that democracy is “a necessary ingredient for the future of America” in the official opening ceremony of the 9th Synod, amid songs and messages of children referring to the wonders of nature in the Latin American states.
“Our region is large and diverse. We do not always agree, or on everything. But because we are democracies, we approach our differences with mutual respect and dialogue,” he said.
“Strategic mistake”
This summit is marked by the absence of several heads of state, especially Mexico, Guatemala, Bolivia and Honduras.
Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador clarified that he was not going to participate because the White House excluded Cuba, Nicaragua and Venezuela from the Summit.
Mexican Foreign Minister Marcelo Ebrard, who attended the summit instead, told the crowd that the blockade of the three countries was a “strategic mistake.” He also said that his government would consider ways to reform the regional institutions.
The US government justified its decision by citing its “reservations” due to “lack of democratic space and respect for human rights” in the three countries.
In his speech, Biden also referred to the “American Partnership for Economic Prosperity”, a US proposal for inclusive growth in Latin America.
“What is true in the United States is true in all other countries. The trickle-down economy is not working,” said Democrat, who has repeatedly criticized the idea of further enriching those who already have large fortunes and large corporations. automatically leads to the improvement of the financial situation for everyone.
The US president also urged the countries of the continent to invest in making the supply chains more secure and resilient.
The US summit was supposed to demonstrate the Biden administration’s intention to restore and renew relations with countries in the region that had been eroded during the days of Donald Trump’s Republican predecessor. Washington hopes to reaffirm its influence in the region amid Chinese investment in the region to gain a foothold.
Eleven visits by Xi Jinping
The Center for Foreign Relations study center counts eleven visits of Chinese President Xi Jinping to the region since taking office in 2013.
Joe Biden has not visited any Latin American country since taking office in January 2021.
Washington, however, does not intend to reciprocate China’s moves by making pharaonic expenditures.
“The United States has never thought that its advantage in the world was simply to spend huge amounts of public money,” said Jake Sullivan, the White House’s national security adviser. The aim is rather to “release large amounts of private funding,” he added.
Mr Biden also referred to the signing, which is due to take place tomorrow, Friday, of the “Los Angeles Declaration” on immigration, a major domestic political issue for Joe Biden in the run-up to the crucial November midterm elections.
He spoke in support of the US Alliance, but said that maintaining some independence was not the answer.
According to him, the countries participating in the Summit will make a “joint commitment” both to create “opportunities for safe and smooth migration” and to “combat human trafficking”.
US Vice President Kamala Harris on Tuesday announced $ 1.9 billion in private sector commitments to support job creation in Central America to discourage departures to the United States.
The Summit also gives Joe Biden the opportunity for bilateral meetings. One of the ones that attracts the most attention is the one he will have today with the Brazilian president Zaich Bolsonaro. This will be the first four-a-four of the Democratic with its far-right counterpart.
The meeting is considered delicate. The White House says Biden is expected to raise the issue of the upcoming elections in Brazil, as Mr Bolsonaru has repeatedly raised concerns that he will not accept a possible defeat in October, as he disputes his systemic.
Source: AMPE
Source: Capital
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