Overview
- The gathering slated for December 1–6 in Punta Cana has been pushed to next year with no new date set.
- The foreign ministry cited "deep divergences" across the hemisphere and recent Caribbean storms as obstacles to a productive dialogue.
- U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said he fully supports the delay and pledged cooperation to help shape a 2026 meeting.
- Organizers said committed funds will roll over to 2026 and that they will open new consultations to include newly elected democratic governments.
- The decision followed planned exclusions of Venezuela, Cuba, and Nicaragua that prompted Mexico and Colombia to decline attendance, alongside strain linked to U.S. anti-drug operations reported to have left more than 60 dead.