CUBAN Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez has accused the US of slander in its attempt to justify his country’s exclusion from the forthcoming Summit of the Americas. 

US official Brian Nichols announced earlier this month that Cuba, Nicaragua and Venezuela will not receive invitations claiming that they do not respect the democratic charter. 

The countries, which were branded “the troika of tyranny” by the Trump administration, have been accused by Washington of not doing enough to fight terrorism. 

Mr Rodriguez hit back and accused the US of slander by making the baseless accusations. 

He reminded Washington that “there is no longer room for the Monroe Doctrine,” which advocates the dominance of the United States over Latin and South America. 

Bolivian President Luis Arce and his Mexican counterpart Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador have condemned the decision and are refusing to attend the summit which will take place in Los Angeles next month. 

Organisers of a People’s Summit for Democracy held counter to the US government-organised event have condemned a decision to refuse visas for 23 Cubans including scientists, doctors and trade unionists that had been invited to attend.

“With this decision and Cuba’s exclusion from Biden’s official summit, Cuba has been denied a voice in vital discussions about democracy, integration, and regional co-operation,” they said.

A petition calling for the decision to be reversed can be signed here.