Despite slights, Biden outlines economic and migration plans at the Summit of the Americas

Biden at the Summit of the Americas: Democracy is a brand of the region 1:42

Los Angeles (CNN) --

President Joe Biden arrived in Los Angeles on Wednesday to host nearly two dozen Latin American leaders at the Summit of the Americas, hoping to use the new economic and immigration announcements to demonstrate cohesion in a region of fractured politics and, at times, entrenched skepticism about the United States.

His mission has been made more difficult by the decision of several leaders to boycott the summit, including the top leaders of Mexico and three Central American countries that the United States has worked hard to cultivate.

They refused to attend because Biden refused to invite three autocratic leaders.

The drama over the guest list dampened the prospect of great displays of unity.

Yet Biden remained determined Wednesday to show his commitment to a part of the world that is often overlooked in American foreign policy.

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Biden launched the summit calling for cooperation and a renewed focus on democracy, an urgent call after his exclusion of autocratic leaders from the conference sparked protests and boycotts.

"Right now we need more cooperation, common purpose and transformative ideas. There has never been a greater need than today," Biden said as he opened the three-day event.

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"Democracy has been a hallmark of our region," Biden continued, calling on nations to "renew our conviction that democracy is not just the defining feature of American stories," but the "essential ingredient."

He said it was now critical to "demonstrate to our people the power of democracies to improve everyone's lives."

And as China advances in Latin America, Biden said "we have all the tools we need right here in our own hemisphere" to deliver security and economic progress.

The president outlined a new economic framework that Washington hopes other countries will sign up to in the coming months.

He also previewed a migration declaration that the countries have agreed to detailing the responsibilities of nations amid historic migration flows.

These are some of the most serious challenges for the Western Hemisphere and also represent some of the most potent political liabilities for Biden as he struggles in the polls ahead of this year's midterm elections.

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The goals of the Summit of the Americas continue despite the boycott

The president and his team once hoped to use the Summit of the Americas to make important progress on those issues with key players in the region.

And US government officials say they have secured participation even from countries whose leaders refuse to attend.

“The substantive work of the summit has not been touched, adjusted or reduced in any way by the turnout issue,” National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan told reporters aboard Air Force One as Biden flew west.

"These two things are operating on completely different lanes, and we are happy to have high-level participation from each of these countries, even though some leaders, each for their own reason, have chosen not to come to Los Angeles. ".

Still, the boycott undermines the image of unity that might have emerged from the summit had all the region's leaders been present.

"I think if they had to do it over again, they might have considered postponing it. But now, I think they're going to go ahead, make the most of it," said John Negroponte, a former US ambassador to Mexico who has held several other security posts. high-ranking national

"This is an opportunity to put the spotlight on issues that are important to us in the hemisphere, and I'm sure the administration will have some success in doing that, and I'm sure there will be useful meetings, useful conversations on a whole range of issues." , said.

It's not just autocratic leaders in the region who were denied invitations to the Summit of the Americas this week.

Venezuela's opposition leader Juan Guaidó was also left off the list, despite the fact that the United States recognizes him as interim president.

Extending an invitation to Guaidó could have further aggravated tensions with countries that still recognize disputed President Nicolás Maduro, who was among the autocrats Biden barred from participating.

Biden spoke with Guaidó by phone while flying to Los Angeles.

(Credit: Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)

Development and key themes of the Summit

Biden's first day in California was intended to highlight American economic commitments to a region that has increasingly looked to China for infrastructure investment.

During the summit, Biden is expected to announce more than $300 million in assistance for food security, in addition to other private sector commitments, as well as health initiatives and a partnership on climate resilience.

The president planned to introduce a new economic partnership with Latin American nations, though he falls short of a full trade deal that would expand market access in the way many countries seek.

The "Association of the Americas for Economic Prosperity" is instead a framework aimed at reinvigorating regional economic institutions like the Inter-American Development Bank, making supply chains more resilient, creating more clean energy jobs, and ensuring sustainable trade.

"The best antidote to China's advances in the region is to make sure that we are forging our own affirmative vision of the region economically," a senior administration official told reporters.

"We think that's why it's so important that we set out a really ambitious and up-to-date vision regionally."

At the same time, officials acknowledged that the partnership does not equate to a trade deal that requires congressional approval, where protectionist sentiments have largely impeded any new free trade agreement.

United States President Joe Biden delivers a keynote address at the Summit of the Americas opening ceremony at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles on June 8, 2022. (Credit: Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)

"We're not negotiating a trade deal that would go to Congress, but rather we're building on existing deals to promote a race to the top," another Biden administration official said.

In Los Angeles, Biden was expected to meet for the first time with Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, who was contemplating a boycott of his own before being promised a face-to-face meeting with the US leader.

The far-right populist leader, who was a close ally of President Donald Trump, has been largely ignored by the White House until now.

Earlier this week, he even echoed Trump by casting doubt on Biden's 2020 election victory in comments from Sao Paulo.

He has also questioned the reliability of Brazil's electoral systems.

Sullivan said he hoped the two presidents would discuss "free, fair and transparent democratic elections" in their talks.

"There are no topics off limits in any bilateral act that the president does, even with President Bolsonaro," Sullivan said.

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