Kevin Sullivan in Miami Herald regarding "Shield of the Americas" Summit
Kevin Sullivan in Miami Herald regarding "Shield of the Americas" Summit
"There appears to be a real possibility of reaching important agreements" on transnational criminal organizations, said the AS/COA vice president.
President Donald Trump will host leaders from across Latin America and the Caribbean in Doral on Saturday for what the White House describes as a landmark summit aimed at reshaping regional alliances and reinforcing U.S. influence in the Western Hemisphere. [...]
Kevin Sullivan, vice president of Americas Society/Council of the Americas and head of the organization’s Washington office, said the meeting underscores the importance of sustained engagement between the United States and regional leaders.
“It’s always important when the president of the United States takes time to meet with leaders from the Americas,” Sullivan said. “Given the global demands on the presidency — from conflicts in places like Ukraine and tensions involving Iran — it’s not easy to dedicate time to the region.”
Sullivan said the gathering comes at a moment when many governments across the hemisphere face shared challenges, particularly violent crime and transnational criminal organizations.
“There appears to be a real possibility of reaching important agreements on how to confront those priorities,” he said. At the same time, Sullivan noted that the invitation list suggests the administration sought to bring together governments that broadly share its political outlook.
“You can sometimes move further and faster with like-minded partners,” he said...
