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Saudi Arabia Courts Latin America and the Caribbean

By Emilie Sweigart

Next week’s Saudi-run summit in Rio is the latest step in the Gulf nation’s increased engagement with the region.

Last November, a group of Caribbean dignitaries departed from Barbados and Miami in two private jets headed for Riyadh. Following the inaugural CARICOM-Saudi Arabia Summit, they returned with a $2.5 billion investment commitment for Caribbean development. The pledge, announced by Guyana’s President Irfaan Ali, was one of many outcomes from the high-profile gathering.The agreement to increase investment in a cash-strapped region came along with the 15-member bloc’s support for Saudi Arabia’s bid to host World Expo 2030, which the kingdom won easily later that month over South Korea and...

Read this article on the Americas Quarterly website. | Subscribe to AQ.

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