Biden, Lopez Obrador, Trudeau To Meet At The White House. Cuba On The Agenda? "We're Prepared To Discuss..." Canada And Mexico Have Substantive Commercial/Economic/Political Relationships With Cuba
/United States Department of State
Washington DC
19 November 2021
Briefing with Assistant Secretary for Western Hemisphere Affairs Brian A. Nichols on the North American Leaders’ Summit and Bilateral Meetings with Canada and Mexico
QUESTION: Good morning. Thank you for doing this and taking my question. My question is: Was there a mention about Cuba and Nicaragua during the talks? Officials previewed that it would be a topic of discussion. And if so, what was the tone of the conversation with the Mexican President? And I would like to take advantage of this opportunity to ask you about your reaction on the Nicaragua’s announcement to leave the Organization of American States. Thank you.
ASSISTANT SECRETARY NICHOLS: So on the second part first, I’m going to limit my discussions to the North American Leaders’ Summit, but you can certainly work with our press team on other issues and we can talk at another time on those. So the leaders discussed democracy in our hemisphere and its importance extensively, and what we can do to deliver greater progress and real actions to defend democracy in our hemisphere at some length. We are all committed to making sure that this is a hemisphere that respects democracy, the rule of law, and human rights. President Biden particularly noted his concerns about the issue of corruption and how that undermines democracy, and making sure that the benefits of economic growth reach all the peoples of our hemisphere. The – President López Obrador shares those values and beliefs, though he also stated his view that the non-interference in the domestic affairs of other countries, which is a longstanding tenet of Mexican foreign policy, is also quite important. But they all agreed that democracy should be the hallmark of our hemisphere. So I’ll leave it there.
The White House
Washington DC
18 November 2021
The White House Readout of President Biden’s Meeting with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau of Canada- “Looking forward to the Summit for Democracy, the President and Prime Minister affirmed their commitment to promote democracy, human rights, and media freedom around the world.” The White House Readout of President Biden’s Meeting with President Andrés Manuel López Obrador of Mexico- No such statement. Prime Minister Trudeau confirmed that neither the Republic of Cuba nor Venezuela was discussed.
National Palace
Mexico City, Mexico
15 November 2021
H.E. Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, President of the United Mexican States: “I think that Cuba should not be isolated, politically speaking. You cannot suffocate the Cubans who have decided to stay in Cuba. I am against the blockade, I think it is inhumane, no one has the right to have a people lead a people to rebel against their government through these practices.”
The White House
Washington DC
18 November 2021
1:15 PM- THE PRESIDENT participates in a bilateral meeting with The Right Honorable Justin Trudeau, P.C., M.P., Prime Minister of Canada- Oval Office
1:30 PM- THE VICE PRESIDENT will hold a bilateral meeting with His Excellency Andrés Manuel López Obrador, President of the United Mexican States. There will be a pool spray at the top of this meeting in the Vice President’s Ceremonial Office.
2:45 PM- THE VICE PRESIDENT will hold a bilateral meeting with The Right Honorable Justin Trudeau, P.C., M.P., Prime Minister of Canada. There will be a pool spray at the top of this meeting in the Vice President’s Ceremonial Office.
3:00 PM- THE PRESIDENT participates in a bilateral meeting with His Excellency Andrés Manuel López Obrador, President of the United Mexican States- Oval Office
4:45 PM- THE PRESIDENT hosts The Right Honorable Justin Trudeau, P.C., M.P., Prime Minister of Canada, and His Excellency Andrés Manuel López Obrador, President of the United Mexican States, for the North American Leaders’ Summit (NALS)- East Room
The White House
Washington DC
17 November 2021
Background Press Call by Senior Administration Officials Previewing the North American Leaders' Summit (NALS)
And Cuba -- anything on Cuba? Yunior Garcia suddenly appearing in Spain -- and Canada and Mexico as a conduit to any type of movement towards Cuba? And one final point is: We're coming on the fifth anniversary of the Colombian peace agreement that the U.S. supports. Will that be part of the conversations? What do you expect on those three fronts?
SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL: Good afternoon, Juan Carlos. So, I expect that in the bilateral meeting and the trilateral meeting for there to be a long list of bilateral, trilateral, regional, and global issues. Certainly, I think, as my colleague mentioned, migration is going to be a top priority, really maintaining the momentum of Glasgow to make sure that, as the North America bloc, it's something that we're making a priority. And there's a commitment among the three to promote the development of renewables. And so, you know, I think we're prepared to discuss issues that range from Cuba, to Nicaragua, to Venezuela. I would note that the President yesterday issued a proclamation that bans entry into the United States of individuals that have been involved in the violations of human rights and the breakdown of democracy in Nicaragua into this country.
The White House
Washington DC
10 November 2021
North American Leaders’ Summit (NALS)
On November 18, President Biden will host Prime Minister Justin Trudeau of Canada and President Andrés Manuel López Obrador of Mexico at the White House for the first North American Leaders’ Summit (NALS) since 2016. During the Summit, the United States, Mexico, and Canada will reaffirm their strong ties and integration while also charting a new path for collaboration on ending the COVID-19 pandemic and advancing health security; competitiveness and equitable growth, to include climate change; and a regional vision for migration. Strengthening our partnership is essential to our ability to build back better, to revitalize our leadership, and to respond to a widening range of regional and global challenges. With respect for each other’s sovereignty and in a true spirit of partnership, we affirm our unwavering vision that North America is the most competitive and dynamic region in the world.
United States Department of State
Washington DC
12 November 2021
Secretary Antony J. Blinken and Canadian Foreign Minister Mélanie Joly Before Their Meeting
SECRETARY BLINKEN: Well, good morning, everyone. It’s a real pleasure to be able to receive the new Foreign Minister of Canada, Mélanie Joly, here in Washington at the State Department. I’m so glad we were able to get together so quickly. We spoke on the phone just a few days ago, and I’m really grateful to Mélanie for coming here so quickly. We have a lot of work to do. We have our leaders getting together next week for the North American Leaders Summit as well as a meeting between Prime Minister Trudeau and President Biden, so we’re going to spend some time working on that. But let me simply say that we have no closer friend, no closer partner, in the world than Canada. And virtually everything that we are doing, that we’re engaged in, we’re doing it together. And so we have the world that we’re looking at together, but I’m just so grateful to have you here. (In French.)
FOREIGN MINISTER JOLY: Merci, (in French.)
SECRETARY BLINKEN: (In French.)
FOREIGN MINISTER JOLY: Well, thank you, Tony, for these warm words of welcome of yours. It’s a pleasure for me to be with you and to be in Washington. I wanted to make sure as the new Foreign Affairs Minister for Canada to come here as my first visit and my first visit – my first trip outside of Canada since COVID.
SECRETARY BLINKEN: Ah, right.
FOREIGN MINISTER JOLY: So at the same time, obviously, as a Minister in the Canadian cabinet, I wanted to make sure that we reaffirm the importance of our friendship with the U.S. This historic friendship is one that we have to take care of and that we must work on. In that context, it will be a pleasure for me to address some key issues, definitely making sure that we can continue to collaborate to fight climate change, to really also address the importance of fighting for democracies and protecting also our democratic institutions and values. And of course, since we have so many of our economic ties that really is making sure that we’re united, we need to make sure that we reinforce our supply chains as, of course, we are reopening the (inaudible) our border.
(In French.)
SECRETARY BLINKEN: Merci, (in French).
FOREIGN MINISTER JOLY: (In French.) Thank you so much. Thank you.
United States Department of State
Washington DC
12 November 2021
Office of the Spokesperson
The following is attributable to Spokesperson Ned Price: Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken met with Canadian Foreign Minister Mélanie Joly today in Washington, D.C. Secretary Blinken and Foreign Minister Joly emphasized the importance of the U.S.-Canada partnership and discussed a range of issues, including the upcoming North American Leaders’ Summit, our continued support for the people of Afghanistan, the situation in Haiti, and our shared commitment to promote global security and universal norms. Secretary Blinken noted his appreciation for our close collaboration as we continue to implement the Roadmap for a Renewed U.S.-Canada Partnership, including opportunities to reinforce the importance of democracy, anticorruption, and human rights at the Summit for Democracy.
