Key topics for discussion by the Central American, Dominican Republic and US Presidents during the Central American Integration System (SICA) summit included cooperation beyond security, the fight against drug trafficking and how to make better use of the Dominican Republic-Central America-United States Free Trade Agreement (DR-CAFTA). US President Barack Obama and the heads of state of Guatemala, Belize, Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Costa Rica and Panama, and the Dominican Republic, which is a partner member, took part in the summit.
US President Obama was also promoting the Connecting the Americas 2022 (Connect 2022) initiative, launched by Colombia at the 2012 Summit of the Americas. As a key component of the Energy and Climate Partnership of the Americas, Connect 2022 seeks to provide, within a decade, all citizens of the hemisphere with access to reliable, clean, and affordable electricity through increased electrical interconnection. High electricity prices in the region undermine investment and jobs and affect the lives of all citizens.