Mexico President Says He Will Skip Americas Summit If US Excludes Other Nations

Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador said on Tuesday that he would not attend the upcoming Americas Summit as a protest if the US excludes other countries, including Cuba.

During his daily press conference, Lopez Obrador said he would send Foreign Minister Marcelo Ebrard in representation for the gathering in Los Angeles, California, if Washington does not invite other nations in South America.

"I do not want the same policy to continue in America. I want to assert the sovereignty's independence and demonstrate to the universal fraternity we are not for confrontation; we are for brotherhood, to unite. Although we may have differences, we can solve them, at least by listening to each other dialoguing, but not by excluding anyone," said Lopez Obrador at the press conference.

The United States government had previously decided against inviting Cuba, Nicaragua, and Venezuela for the Americas Summit celebrated in June.

President Joe Biden has been open about his criticism of the governments of these countries, continuing the ongoing set of economic and diplomatic sanctions against the three nations.

On his visit to Cuba on May 8, Lopez Obrador said at a press conference he "will insist President Biden that no country in the Americas be excluded from next month's summit in Los Angeles."

In addition, the Mexican leader condemned the US attitude towards Cuba, criticizing the economic blockade that has lingered over Cuba for the past 60 years.

"I have said quite frankly that it looks bad for the US government to use the blockade to impede the welfare of the people of Cuba so that they, the people of Cuba, forced by necessity, confront their own government," said Lopez Obrador at a press conference on Sunday.

When asked if he thought his recent comments could harm the relations with the US, Lopez Obrador said both countries share a "relationship of friendship and respect." -