US Postpones Americas Summit Amid Caribbean Tensions

The 2025 Summit of the Americas, originally scheduled for December in the Dominican Republic, has been postponed to 2026 due to escalating regional tensions and deep political divisions. The Dominican government cited "deep differences" among participating countries and damage from Hurricane Melissa as factors hindering productive dialogue. The postponement follows the deployment of US warships in the Caribbean, conducting anti-drug operations that have resulted in at least 65 deaths since September, raising concerns and anger among several American nations. The US maintains the military actions are aimed at combating narcotics trafficking, but critics view the strikes as extrajudicial killings, with no public evidence released to justify the attacks. This growing discord, coupled with the sensitive geopolitical environment around Venezuela, where the US naval presence has heightened fears of intervention against President Nicolas Maduro, contributed to the decision to delay the summit. The Dominican Republic coordinated the postponement with the United States and other invited countries to avoid holding an unproductive meeting amid the current strained atmosphere.