The Wire

The 5th Summit of the Americas has concluded in Trinidad, with a renewed sense of openness in the region. The recent Obama-led detente with the US’ closest neighbours has encouraged Latin American leaders to intensify pressure on the US to drop the 47-year-old embargo on Cuba and invite the country to the summit. The most vocal critic of the US was Argentine president Cristina Kirchner, who said that Obama’s new direction was welcome, but meant little if it wasn’t backed with concrete policy.