Bungled Summit of Americas diplomatic nightmare for US

- The 9th Summit of the Americas has become a diplomatic nightmare for the United States, which opted to scratch Cuba, Venezuela and Nicaragua off the guest list of the continental conference.

- The summit fails to help resolve the region's pressing problems due to the lack of political will on the part of the United States, said analysts.

- Washington seems to take advantage of the summit to restore its waning influence and tighten its grip over Latin American nations.

MEXICO CITY -- This week's Summit of the Americas, being held in the US city of Los Angeles, has become a diplomatic nightmare for the United States, which opted to scratch three nations off the guest list, essentially gutting the regional gathering even before it began.

US President Joe Biden's administration excluded Cuba, Venezuela and Nicaragua from the continental conference held from Wednesday to Friday despite the objections of other leaders, notably Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, who openly urged the White House to rethink its unpopular position and ultimately declined to attend the meeting in protest.

Washington's decision to cherry-pick who gets invited to the summit, and strong-arm other governments into acquiescing, sent a familiar chill through Latin America, a region the United States has notoriously referred to as its "backyard."

Far from signalling a willingness to partner with regional countries to tackle common issues, Washington seems to take advantage of the summit to restore its waning influence and tighten its grip over Latin American nations, which are increasingly wary of US self-interest.