Joe Biden opened the regional event with an investment plan in Latin America

by time news

In a theater full of guests, Latin American music and mariachis, US President Joe Biden formally opened the Summit of the Americas this Wednesday and launched an economic initiative for the region in the appointment with the leaders of the continent that began with many problems and that could end in a failure of only good intentions.

“At a time when democracies are under assault in the world, let us unite again,” the president said in his message to the summit. “Our region is long and diverse, we may not agree on everything, as we are democracies we have differences, but we must have respect in dialogueor,” he said. “The question is what things can we achieve by working together, as equals, with mutual respect.”

Biden said that he was launching his economic alliance as a way to contribute to a more efficient economy and from which all sectors can enjoy its benefits “from the bottom up” and “inside out.”

“The spillover economy doesn’t work,” he exclaimed.. “We must break that circle,” he insisted to the applause of the attending leaders gathered in the city’s Convention Center and in a neighboring theater where Biden delivered his opening message on a stage full of guests, where there were mariachis, a band of Emilio Estefan and music from all over the continent.

In the front row were the leaders and representatives of the region, including Alberto Fernández with his wife Fabiola, who had arrived minutes before and greeted Biden and then walked down a red carpet to the interior of the venue.

Biden announced a strategy for the region pompously dubbed the “Alliance for Economic Prosperity in the Americas” (APEP) that seeks to revitalize the continent with a “bottom-up” and “inside-out” reconstruction. ”, administration officials enigmatically noted.

Among the main points are “revitalizing” the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) chaired by the questioned Mauricio Claver Carone; also have more resilient supply chains; improve the environmental quality of the economy; promote formal employment and “inclusive and sustainable” trade.

US officials explained that it is a “historic” agreement that will be “essential to facilitate cooperation” in the regionbut beyond words it is rather a compendium of good intentions to start developing later, after the Summit.

Speech. Joe Biden at the summit in Los Angeles.

Biden seeks to revitalize a continental meeting that was complicated by the absence of a key actor such as Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador, who opposed the exclusion of the leaders of Cuba, Venezuela and Nicaragua from the meeting, considered dictators by the Biden administration.

In addition, several other leaders declined their presence, such as the Bolivian Luis Arce, the Guatemalan Alejandro Giammattei, the Honduran Xiomara Castro and the Salvadoran Nayib Bukele.

The absence of the leaders of the so-called “Northern Triangle” complicates the signing of commitments on migration issues, something that the US is fervently seeking because it does not want more migrants to filter into its territory from those countries through Mexico.

Biden sought to focus his message in promoting democratic values ​​and good governancewhich has been a central component in the summits, and which now take on more courage in situations such as that of Cuba, Venezuela and Nicaragua.

Another of Biden’s initiatives at this Summit is investment in civil society, which they call “an essential component of democracy”: the White House will invest some US$75 million over three years in 300 local community-led organizations to empower local civil society organizations. Additionally, USAID will launch the interagency Voices Initiative, dedicating $42 million to protect, defend, and promote civic space in Central America.

Arrival.  President Joe Biden, his wife Jill, and Guatemalan Foreign Minister Mario Adolfo Bucaro Flores at the start of the summit (AFP)

Arrival. President Joe Biden, his wife Jill, and Guatemalan Foreign Minister Mario Adolfo Bucaro Flores at the start of the summit (AFP)

“These programs will focus on promoting digital democracy and fighting digital authoritarianism; promote freedom of expression and strengthen independent media outlets,” the White House said.

The US joined Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Panama, Peru and Uruguay as members of the OAS Group of Friends of Freedom of Expression and Journalism.

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