Biden will speak to regional leaders and envoys

• Washington has brushed off boycotts by several leaders at the Summit of the Americas.
• US President Joe Biden aims to restore US clout at the regional event.
• The event has been overshadowed by the US decision to exclude Nicaragua, Venezuela and Cuba from guest list.

As US President Joe Biden seeks to reestablish US clout at the regional event; Washington has dismissed boycotts by a number of leaders. President Joe Biden will kick off the summit’s leader-level section in Los Angeles, California; as Washington aims to reclaim leadership in the region with a slew of measures aimed at growing economies, curbing migration; and solving public health concerns.

Read More: Biden, Brazil’s Bolsonaro to have wide-ranging talks at Americas summit-U.S.

The US decision to ban Nicaragua, Venezuela, and Cuba off the guest list has already overshadowed the event; which has faded in prominence in recent years. Officials from the United States have defended their decision; citing human rights violations and a lack of democracy in the excluded countries, but several leaders, including Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador; have said the move undermines the gathering’s spirit and have chosen to send lower-level delegates in protest.

Read More: Mexico will not attend the Americas Summit