Latin America leaders arrive to CELAC summit to discuss Venezuela crisis, Cuba embargo, Trump

Record ID: 165645

  • Title: Latin America leaders arrive to CELAC summit to discuss Venezuela crisis, Cuba embargo, Trump
  • Date: 25th January 2017
  • Summary: PUNTA CANA, DOMINICAN REPUBLIC (JANUARY 25, 2017) (REUTERS) ****WARNING CONTAINS FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY*** VARIOUS OF BOLIVIAN PRESIDENT, EVO MORALES, ARRIVING AT SUMMIT ECUADOREAN PRESIDENT, RAFAEL CORREA, ENTERING SUMMIT VENUE PRESIDENTS AREA WHERE OFFICIAL PHOTOGRAPH WILL BE TAKEN SIGN WITH SUMMIT LOGO VARIOUS OF PRESIDENTS DURING OFFICIAL PHOTOGRAPH
  • Embargoed: 8th February 2017 17:42
  • Keywords: Nicolas Maduro Community of Latin American and Caribbean States Rafael Correa Evo Morales
  • Location: PUNTA CANA, DOMINICAN REPUBLIC
  • City: PUNTA CANA, DOMINICAN REPUBLIC
  • Country: Dominican Republic
  • Topics: Diplomacy/Foreign Policy,Government/Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA00360KXO3N
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: Leaders from across Latin America and the Caribbean continued to arrive in Punta Cana on Wednesday (January 25) for the 5th CELAC summit, where leaders are discussing regional issues, such as policy changes facing Latin Americans and U.S. based Latinos under Donald Trump's administration.
    Heads of states from the 33-member Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC), which does not include Canada and the United States, are meeting to discuss greater regional cooperation and stronger ties.
    The organisation was created in Venezuela under the late President Hugo Chavez with many of the left-wing leaders within the group seeing CELAC as a platform to fight what they consider imperialism in Latin America and the Caribbean.
    The embattled Venezuelan President, and Chavez's hand-picked successor, Nicolas Maduro, said the organisation had the potential to forge a common path forward for the region.
    "For the first time, Latin America has gone for almost a decade (since the creation of CELAC) in search of the consolidation of its own path, with a common doctrine with respect to diversity, so CELAC, with this summit, signals a great way forward for Latin America and the Caribbean, which must be united today more than ever before existing threats," said Maduro.
    Several leaders condemned the announcement by U.S. president Donald Trump's administration that he will go ahead building an infamous wall between the United States and Mexico.
    Trump has also vowed to deport millions of undocumented migrants from the United States. With many Dominican citizens residing in America, President of the host country, Danilo Sanchez, said on Tuesday that the region must defend the interests of their citizens in the U.S.
    Amongst the nations which make up CELAC are export-driven countries like Mexico, Colombia and Peru. Many in the region fear a trade war as Donald Trump moves swiftly towards protectionism.
    The CELAC nations have nearly 600 million people and a gross domestic product of about $6 trillion dollars.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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