The government of the Dominican Republic has confirmed that Cuba, Nicaragua, and Venezuela are not invited to the Summit of the Americas sponsored by the Organization of American States (OAS), arguing that, in the current context of “political polarization,” it has decided to “prioritize the success of the meeting” and to ensure that “the largest possible number” of delegations attend.
The meeting will take place in early December in Punta Cana, and with their latest announcement, the Dominican authorities have repeated the same vetoes that the United States used in 2022 to convene the previous summit, held in Los Angeles.
The Dominican Republic’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has admitted that organizing the Summit entails “a high level of responsibility at the multilateral level” and takes into account “the interests of the majority of member states,” which, in its opinion, implies excluding these three.
In this regard, the Ministry explained that the exclusion of Cuba, Nicaragua, and Venezuela “is the decision that, given the hemispheric circumstances, favors the largest participation and ensures the development of the forum,” while recalling that these three countries have unilaterally decided not to collaborate with the OAS and its structures.
The Ministry emphasized in its statement that the Dominican Republic maintains good relations with the three banned countries, which it did invite to participate in the 2023 Ibero-American Summit in Santo Domingo and the Summit of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) held in Bávaro in 2017.
“CORNE” IN CUBA
The Cuban government responded with a statement expressing its “deep concern and rejection” of the Dominican authorities’ announcement, which it considers ultimately “imposed” by the Donald Trump administration. “It constitutes an evident capitulation to the brutal unilateral pressures of the US Secretary of State,” it stated.
The Cuban Foreign Ministry sees the consolidation of “the historical regression” of this summit system and the “impossibility” of a “respectful and productive” debate. “A Summit of the Americas built on exclusion and coercion is doomed to failure,” it stressed.
In the face of the veto, Cuban authorities have offered a “respectful and constructive dialogue” under “conditions of sovereign equality and without exclusions.”
