The Dominican Republic has announced the postponement of the X Summit of the Americas, originally scheduled for December 1-5 in Punta Cana, until 2026, citing “the current regional and international situation.” The decision effectively delays a key gathering intended to foster collaboration on issues facing the Americas.
This postponement follows a series of diplomatic challenges surrounding the summit, including decisions not to invite Cuba, Nicaragua, and Venezuela – a move that sparked criticism and led Colombian President Gustavo Petro to announce he would not attend. The summit, which has brought together the continent’s political leaders every three years as 1994, was intended to focus on “Building a Safe, Sustainable Hemisphere and Shared Prosperity.” The delay throws into question regional dialog and cooperation efforts at a time of increasing political and economic volatility.
The Dominican Republic’s decision mirrors concerns raised during the previous Summit of the Americas in Los Angeles in 2022, where the United States’ exclusion of Cuba, Nicaragua, and Venezuela generated significant controversy. The Dominican Republic stated in September that it would also not extend invitations to those countries, aiming to “encourage greater participation and ensure the development of the forum,” noting their absence from the Organization of American States (OAS) and the last summit.
Petro, reacting to the initial exclusion decisions, stated via X (formerly Twitter) in mid-October, “I will not attend the Summit of the Americas in the Dominican Republic. The dialogue dose not begin with exclusions.” The postponement now leaves the future of regional discussions uncertain as the Americas navigate complex challenges.
