Mexico's president will skip 1st U.S.-hosted Summit of the Americas since 1994

The ninth Summit of the Americas officially began Monday in Los Angeles, marking the first time the U.S. has hosted the meeting of North American, South American, Central American, and Caribbean leaders since the inaugural pan-American summit in 1994.
The theme for this years' summit is "Building a Sustainable, Resilient, and Equitable Future." President Biden, who arrives at the summit on Wednesday, plans to focus on crafting a cooperative economic vision for the Americas, fighting climate change, tackling food insecurity, tightening supply chains, preparing for the next pandemic, and managing migration. But the summit's agenda has so far been overshadowed by drama over its guest list.
Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador confirmed Monday that he will not attend the summit, citing Biden's decision not to invite Cuba, Venezuela, or Nicaragua. López Obrador has been the central figure in a push by mostly leftist leaders to get the three excluded nations re-invited, and the White House said his decision to send the Mexican foreign minister instead was not unexpected. But his snub could convince some leaders in Central America and the Caribbean to stay home as well.
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
"We do not believe that dictators should be invited," White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said Monday. She said at least 23 heads of government will attend the summit, "on par with what we've had in the past."
Only 17 of the region's 35 leaders attended the last Summit of the Americas in Peru in 2018. Former President Donald Trump was among those who opted not to go, though his administration then offered in 2019 to host the next summit.
Analysts said the no-shows could undermine Biden's goal of mending ties in a region neglected by recent administrations and increasingly open to overtures from China.
"The region is in serious economic distress, and its economic struggles are eroding support for democracy," Benjamin Gedan, head of the Wilson Center's Latin America Program, tells Politico. "Biden's election generated high expectations for U.S. reengagement in the region, and so far, most everyone has been disappointed." It's not too late to fix that, added former U.S. envoy Bernard Aronson, "but if you look at what Biden's got on the plate elsewhere — an administration can only do two or three big things at a time. He's got Ukraine, Iran, China, inflation. I don't think he has a lot of bandwidth available given what's on his plate."
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.
-
September 3 editorial cartoons
Cartoons Wednesday’s political cartoons include news from the war front in Ukraine, RFK Jr. riding the Grim Reaper, and a Donald Trump cabinet meeting
-
Why high-street coffee chains may have had their day
In the Spotlight Rising costs of coffee, energy and payroll, plus growing appetite for luxury drinks like matcha, has caused boom in independent and speciality coffee shops
-
GPS jamming: a new danger to civil aircraft
The Explainer Use of the 'invisible threat' is on the rise
-
Trump crypto token launch earns family billions
Speed Read The World Liberty Financial token is now the Trump family's 'most valuable asset'
-
RFK Jr. names new CDC head as staff revolt
Speed Read Kennedy installed his deputy, Jim O'Neill, as acting CDC director
-
DC prosecutors lose bid to indict sandwich thrower
Speed Read Prosecutors sought to charge Sean Dunn with assaulting a federal officer
-
White House fires new CDC head amid agency exodus
Speed Read CDC Director Susan Monarez was ousted after butting heads with HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. over vaccines
-
DOGE put Social Security data at risk, official says
Speed Read DOGE workers made the personal information of hundreds of millions of Americans vulnerable to identity theft
-
Court rejects Trump suit against Maryland US judges
Speed Read Judge Thomas Cullen, a Trump appointee, said the executive branch had no authority to sue the judges
-
Trump expands National Guard role in policing
Speed Read The president wants the Guard to take on a larger role in domestic law enforcement
-
Trump says he's firing Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook
Speed Read The move is likely part of Trump's push to get the central bank to cut interest rates