Contributions from Carin Zissis
For all the talk about Cuba and Venezuela, leaders moved forward on other fronts as well during the weekend's Summit of the Americas. On the sidelines, U.S. President Barack Obama signaled action on a trade pact with Colombia and a hemispheric clean-energy partnership.
Thirty-four leaders come together this weekend in Port of Prince for the Summit of the Americas, when U.S. President Obama makes his debut on the hemispheric stage. Prosperity, energy, and climate change are on the agenda, but subplots have developed.
On his way to the Summit of the Americas, President Barack Obama makes his first Latin American visit when he travels to Mexico this week. Security will likely be the main focus as he meets with counterpart Felipe Calderón, even as Mexico experiences a drop in violence connected to organized crime.