Latam

Presidents head to Summit of the Americas amid Mexico and Uruguay’s absence

summit of the americas President Alberto Fernández of Argentina. Photo: Frederic Legrand/COMEO/Shutterstock
President Alberto Fernández of Argentina. Photo: Frederic Legrand/COMEO/Shutterstock

The ninth Summit of the Americas is starting to warm up with the arrival of regional leaders, as Peru’s Pedro Castillo and Argentina’s Alberto Fernández are expected to travel to Los Angeles today. President Jair Bolsonaro of Brazil is not due to arrive in California until Thursday, when he will meet with U.S. President Joe Biden.

Meanwhile, Mexico’s President Andrés Manuel “AMLO” López Obrador confirmed on Monday that he will not be attending this year’s meeting, objecting to the exclusion of Nicaragua, Cuba, and Venezuela from the guest list, a position he shares with Bolivia’s Luis Arce.

Other key attendants include Chile’s recently sworn-in President Gabriel Boric, who, like Mr. Bolsonaro, will hold his first in-person meeting with Mr. Biden.

Uruguay’s Luis Lacalle Pou will be a surprise absentee after catching Covid in the lead-up to the summit, which runs through June 10.