Mexico City/Punta Cana — Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum announced Monday that she will not attend the Summit of the Americas scheduled for December in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic. The decision comes amid her government’s objection to the exclusion of Cuba, Nicaragua, and Venezuela from the event and the urgent need to oversee the national response to deadly flooding at home.
Speaking at her morning press briefing at the National Palace, Sheinbaum was unequivocal: “We never agree with excluding any country.” She added that Mexico is still weighing whether to send a representative from the Foreign Ministry: “We’re evaluating if someone from the Foreign Ministry could attend.”
Her stance blends principle and pragmatism. On one hand, Mexico reiterates its long-standing position in favor of regional inclusion and respect for national sovereignty across the Americas. On the other, Sheinbaum underscored that severe rains and flooding—already blamed for more than 60 deaths in central Mexico—require her direct leadership and presence in-country.
By declining to participate personally, Mexico signals diplomatic distance from the summit’s current format while keeping a channel open for potential diplomatic representation. The move reinforces Mexico’s message: regional dialogue should include all nations, even when disagreements persist.
