article_snippet.sent: The visit is part of an official Caribbean summit seeking to reassert U.S. leadership in the region at a time when oil-producing Venezuela's economic clout may be receding.
article_snippet.sent: The visit is expected to be dominated by discussions on energy, security and trade with the 15-member Caribbean Community, or Caricom.
article_snippet.sent: Some analysts say a key reason why Washington is suddenly paying attention to the Caribbean Basin is that Washington wants to wean the islands off dependence on cut-rate Venezuelan oil that Caracas has long used to wield influence in the region.