Pence Left Summit Before Cuban FM Spoke

Vice President Mike Pence's office says the vice president walked out of the Summit of the Americas when Cuba's foreign minister was recognized to speak after him.


LIMA, PERU (AP) — THE Latest on Vice President Mike Pence's trip to Latin America (all times local):

2 a.m.

Vice President Mike Pence's office says the vice president walked out of the Summit of the Americas when Cuba's foreign minister was recognized to speak after him.

Pence deputy chief of staff Jarrod Agen says Pence had been told he'd be the last speaker of the plenary session in Lima, Peru.

In his remarks, Pence denounced Cuba as a "tired communist regime" that impoverishes its people and denies them fundamental rights.

Cuba's foreign minister, Bruno Rodriguez Parilla, was recognized to offer a rebuttal. When Pence realized that Cuba's representative was speaking, he conferred with an official with the Organization of American States and then walked out of the session.

Pence later met with Caribbean leaders before departing Lima to return to Washington.