President Barack Obama will seek to forge a new relationship with Latin America that overcomes the antagonism of the Bush years when he travels to Trinidad and Tobago for a continent-wide summit on Friday.

Will Obama be able to woo leaders such as Bolivia’s Evo Morales (left) and Venezuela’s Hugo Chávez?

But analysts and commentators point out that the success of the US administration’s efforts to rebuild frayed alliances at this week’s Summit of the Americas will depend on Mr Obama’s adeptness in sidestepping criticism about his policy on Cuba and the US’s role in the financial crisis, as well as the positions struck by leaders such as Hugo Chávez of Venezuela.