When the summit begins on Wednesday evening in Los Angeles, Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador, as well as the leaders of El Salvador, Honduras and Guatemala, do not attend, protesting President Joe Biden’s decision not to include Cuba, Venezuela and Nicaragua in talks. The disruptive nature of the sales of several US allies has caused more headaches for the administration, obscuring the broader purpose of the summit, which the United States has not welcomed since its inception in 1994.
However, for the first lady, the show must continue.
Despite the whirlwind of controversy over whether a boycotted summit is a failure before it begins, Jill Biden will host at least two solo events for a dozen spouses of the 23 confirmed heads of state who will attend the three-day meeting. -up of Western Hemisphere leaders. The facts have been worked out in recent weeks, in coordination with the east wing, according to a White House official.
Biden’s partner program will showcase cultural elements of Los Angeles, and in the process, the first lady will continue a theme that began in her diplomatic visits last month to Ecuador, Panama and Costa Rica: it’s better to be by her side right US than the wrong side.
In San Jose, Costa Rica, before returning to Washington, and after meetings with the country’s president, Biden was confident that her time as an emissary – in a region of the world full of political conflict and uncertainty economic- fulfilled its purpose. .
“Every country I’ve visited said they would [at the Summit of the Americas. I’m looking forward to it,” she said at the time.
Biden’s confidence, even as calls for boycotts of the summit grew louder, came on the heels of her remarks in each country’s capital city centered on the benefits of a healthy partnership with the US. Unlike Vice President Kamala Harris’ message of “do not come [to the United States]”Biden’s tone was closer to” staying where you are and reaping the benefits of a relationship with the United States. ” Biden backed up his message with announcements of funding or help, and promises of support from America.
“Alone, you can only do so much,” said Biden, during a speech attended by President Guillermo Lasso at the presidential palace. Lasso and his wife will be at the top.
“The first lady will organize a program for the spouses who will attend the summit to meet as a group and get to know each other,” Biden Press Secretary Michael LaRosa told CNN.
On Thursday, Biden makes his own diplomatic path, organizing a brunch, which LaRosa notes will be “close to the ocean.” It is common for the first lady or spouse-leader of the host country to organize, plan, and run a series of events to keep the other half of world leaders busy, while their spouses discuss complex issues that will no doubt , will arise in the afternoon. this concrete encounter.
That night, Biden joins the president at Getty Villa, a museum overlooking the Pacific Ocean, for a welcome party and dinner for leaders and their spouses.
On Friday, Biden’s main event – a luncheon at Disney Concert Hall – will feature entertainment with the Los Angeles Youth Orchestra and the performance of the Torres-Martinez Cahuilla Bird Singers, a Native American-inspired group that explains stories. of the natives by means of rhythmic songs and pumpkin rattles.
Lunch will be prepared by 10 chefs and restaurateurs from the Los Angeles area, part of the “Re: Her” program, a national non-profit platform created to help women entrepreneurs in the food and drink space. The first lady will make statements to spouses gathered during lunch, focusing, says LaRosa, on the “interconnection of our world, especially America.”