The sixth summit of the Organization of American States, which concluded on Sunday in the Colombian city of Cartagena, reflected the ever-deepening divide between the United States and Latin American countries over some sensitive issues in the region.

Like the fourth one held in 2005, Sunday's summit, which was attended by 30 Western Hemisphere leaders, failed to produce a final declaration.

The divisive issues include whether the next meeting should include Cuba and whether the OAS should endorse Argentina's claims to the British-held Falkland Islands, known as the Malvinas to Argentinians.

The United States and Canada were alone in opposing Cuba's participation and the collective support for Argentina's territorial claim.

The isolation the US is facing in the OAS indicates there is a deep-rooted conflict between the value systems it tries to export and the fundamental interests of Latin American countries.

It seems time is running out for the US to change its mind before the OAS, an organization it intends to dominate, faces the risk of existing in name only.

The Bolivarian Alliance for the Peoples of Our America, a bloc of eight Latin American and Caribbean countries, has said it will boycott any future Americas summit unless Cuba is granted unconditional admission to the gathering.

The confrontation between the US and Latin American countries has become a barometer of Washington's relations with what Uncle Sam likes to perceive as its "backyard".

Admittedly, since US President Barack Obama took office three years ago, he has repeatedly shown willingness to improve ties with Latin American countries.

But the adjustment of US policy toward the region has fallen short of the wishes of Latin American leaders, and the US' efforts to dominate the region are increasingly causing friction.

The US' insistence on maintaining its hard-line policy toward Cuba and persisting with its half-century-old economic embargo on the island has only sown more suspicion and distrust between the two sides.

With the clout of the US waning in the region and the strength of Latin American countries on the rise, a change in the region's political landscape is unavoidable.

(China Daily 04/17/2012 page8)