The Biden administration finally confirmed it did not invite the authoritarian governments of Cuba, Venezuela and Nicaragua to participate at the Ninth Summit of the Americas that starts Monday in Los Angeles over concerns about human rights in those countries.
鈥淭he U.S. continues to maintain reservations regarding the lack of democratic space and the human rights situations in Cuba, Nicaragua and Venezuela,鈥� a senior administration official said. 鈥淎s a result, Cuba, Nicaragua and Venezuela will not be invited to participate in this Summit.鈥�
As the host of the Summit, the U.S. had wide discretion over the invites. But the administration engaged 鈥渋n broad and candid鈥� discussions over the guest list with other countries because it values 鈥渢he diversity of views of our regional neighbors,鈥� the official said.
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