US sparks bickering over guest list to Summit of Americas

Gathering of leaders comes as Latin Americans feel Washington has disengaged with region

Gideon Long in Los Angeles

Heads of state from across the Americas will gather in Los Angeles next week for a summit that has been overshadowed in its build-up by arguments over who should be invited, who might boycott the event and what it can achieve.

The US government says President Joe Biden will make an important declaration on migration at the Summit of the Americas and the meeting will focus on five topics: democratic governance; health and resilience to pandemics; clean energy; measures to tackle climate change and digital transformation.

Washington will promote a new economic agenda for the Americas and vice-president Kamala Harris is expected to unveil a climate and energy initiative for the Caribbean, where island nations are particularly vulnerable to climate change.