WORLD> Photo
Obama pledges 'equal partnership' in the Americas
(Agencies)
Updated: 2009-04-18 21:23

Obama pledges 'equal partnership' in the Americas
US President Barack Obama gives his speech as presidents look on while attending the opening ceremony of the 5th Summit of the Americas in Port of Spain, April 17, 2009. [Agencies] 

Obama's pledges came after reversals of decades-old policy toward Cuba, the United States' rival just 90 miles to the south. Cuba is not a participant at the summit, but the potential for a sudden upward shift in its relations with the United States is dominating attention.

Until now, Obama had never been south of Mexico in the Western Hemisphere. And until Thursday, the 47-year-old US president had only been to Mexico once in his life, during college.

The summit itself is not expected to produce any major breakthroughs. The final document is an already locked-in declaration of joint efforts on the economy, energy and security.

But Obama's mission is broader. It is to get the countries in this part of the world -- a mix of emerging, hurting, tiny and overshadowed places -- to believe the United States is truly engaged.

Much of this region felt left off the US agenda during the Iraq-dominated presidency of George W. Bush, although even Obama acknowledges the problem goes back much longer than that.

"The United States has changed over time. It has not always been easy, but it has changed," Obama said. "And so I think it's important to remind my fellow leaders that it's not just the United States that has to change. All of us have responsibilities."