INTERNATIONAL: Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega said on Wednesday 19th May that his government was "not interested" in attending the U.S.- hosted Summit of the Americas next month, which some leaders have criticised for reports it may exclude the Central American country along with Cuba and Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro's government.

Nicaragua was previously informed that it would be excluded from the summit, which will take place in Los Angeles, according to a person in Washington familiar with the matter.

President Of Nicaragua, Daniel Ortega, Said:

“I say from here to the ‘Yankee’ (President Biden), forget it, we are not interested in being at that summit, yes, (the Summit) it's going to be filled with you know what. That summit does not dignify anyone, it rather dirties them, it sullies them. We Latin Americans must defend ourselves so they respect us."

“What world are we in? It’s shameful the show the ‘Yankee rulers’ are putting with this famous summit they call, Summit of the Americas.”

Ortega won a fourth consecutive term in November after jailing rivals and cracking down on critical media, triggering international criticism. He has frequently accused the United States of being interventionist and trying to undermine his government.

He added in Wednesday's speech that Latin American leaders already meet via the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) comprised of 32 countries.

A senior State Department official said in April that Cuba, Nicaragua and Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro's government would likely be excluded because the summit is meant to focus on democracy in the region.

Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador has urged all countries to be included and said he might not attend otherwise. On Thursday, he told reporters he expected a response from U.S. President Joe Biden this week after expressing concerns to U.S. special adviser Christopher Dodd.

Tensions have risen over signals that Cuba – along with Nicaragua and Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro's government – could be excluded from the U.S.-hosted Summit of the Americas next month. A potential boycott by a growing number of leaders, including Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, has raised the risk of embarrassment for President Joe Biden.

The Biden administration on Thursday accused Cuba of fuelling controversy over its possible exclusion from the summit to pit itself against the United States and distract attention from its human rights record at home.