Mexico's President, Claudia Sheinbaum, has decided not to attend the upcoming Summit of the Americas in the Dominican Republic, expressing her discontent with the exclusion of Cuba, Nicaragua, and Venezuela from the hemispheric event. During her daily press briefing at the National Palace, Sheinbaum was unequivocal in her response when questioned about her attendance: "No, I will not be attending," she stated, while also indicating that her administration is evaluating whether there will be a Mexican representative. "We're considering if someone from the Foreign Ministry might go," she added.
President Sheinbaum emphasized her disagreement with the decision to exclude certain nations from the summit. "Personally, we're never in favor of excluding any country, especially given the current circumstances. We need to focus on our country and, particularly, the emergency," she said, referring to the recent flooding in central Mexico that has resulted in 64 fatalities.
On September 30th, the Dominican Foreign Ministry announced President Luis Abinader's decision not to invite Cuba, Nicaragua, and Venezuela to the 10th Summit of the Americas, scheduled for December 4th and 5th in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic. A statement from the ministry explained that although the Dominican presidency had pledged an "inclusive" summit, the current climate of political polarization led them to prioritize the event's "success" by inviting as many countries as possible.
"The exclusion of Cuba, Nicaragua, and Venezuela—countries that have, for various reasons, opted out of the OAS and did not participate in the last Summit—constitutes a decision that, given the hemispheric circumstances, ensures the widest participation and the forum's development," the document stated. The Dominican government maintained that its decision "adheres to a strictly multilateral criterion" and clarified that bilateral relations with these three countries "retain their unique characteristics."
President Luis Abinader responded to Sheinbaum's comments, stating, "I will respond with the same words President Claudia used when asked about the Nobel Peace Prize: no comments," referencing Sheinbaum's evasive stance regarding the Nobel awarded to María Corina Machado.
The previous Summit of the Americas, held in Los Angeles, USA, in 2022, was also notable for the exclusion of Cuba, Nicaragua, and Venezuela, as well as the absence of Mexico's then-President Andrés Manuel López Obrador, who protested for similar reasons.
Key Questions About the Summit of the Americas
Why did Mexico's President Claudia Sheinbaum decide not to attend the Summit?
President Sheinbaum chose not to attend the summit in protest of the exclusion of Cuba, Nicaragua, and Venezuela, emphasizing her disagreement with excluding any nation from such events.
What reasons did the Dominican Republic give for not inviting certain countries?
The Dominican Republic cited the current political polarization and the aim for a successful summit as reasons for not inviting Cuba, Nicaragua, and Venezuela, focusing on ensuring maximum participation.
How has the exclusion of countries affected previous summits?
The exclusion of Cuba, Nicaragua, and Venezuela has led to notable absences, including that of Mexico's former President Andrés Manuel López Obrador at the 2022 Summit in Los Angeles, which he boycotted for similar exclusionary practices.