Obama urged at summit to focus on Latin America

CARTAGENA, Colombia (Reuters) - Washington should turn back to alliances with neighbours in Latin America rather than focus on faraway conflicts like Afghanistan, Colombia's president said on Friday before welcoming President Barack Obama to the Americas Summit.

U.S. influence has waned in recent years in a region it traditionally saw as its backyard, allowing China to gain ground and emerge as the No. 1 trade partner with various countries, including regional powerhouse Brazil.