Hello, and welcome to the Latin America Weekly newsletter! In this issue: Can Joe Biden pull off the Summit of the Americas? A controversial alliance in Ecuador. And the Colombian presidential election.
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Summit of the Americas: division and poor organization
Next week, the U.S will host the ninth Summit of the Americas in Los Angeles, receiving leaders from all across Latin America (or almost) to discuss the region’s future with regards to issues around the economy, sustainable development, and political relations. This month’s meeting, however, is viewed with deep skepticism, as global crises distract leaders and Washington rubs other countries up the wrong way.
Why it matters. Joe Biden is seeking to restore U.S. influence over Latin America, where the country has lost soft power and economic influence, especially to China.
Yes, but … Much of this is of Washington’s own doing, and the U.S. will be hard-pushed to fulfill its goals, considering the summit’s poor organization.
- The U.S. maintains ties with the likes of Saudi Arabia, but has