The Fifth Summit of the Americas with host Trinidad and Tobago will be attended by President Barack Obama

The fifth Summit of the Americas will be held at Port of Spain in the island of Trinidad and Tobago April 17 to 19, 2009.

This Summit of the Americas will be attended by President Barack Obama, and will be his second major trip outside of the United States of America following his trip to Europe for the G-20 and NATO Summits.

The theme of the Fifth Summit of the Americas is "Securing Our Citizens' Future by Promoting Human Prosperity, Energy Security and Environmental Sustainability". The Port of Spain summit will focus on developing feasible solutions to the challenges facing the Hemisphere and delivering tangible and measurable outcomes for all citizens.

Caribbean leaders and those of the Americas are expected to enlighten the President as to the their unique circumstances within the hemisphere in which they reside, and will be able to better understand the President's vision for the region.

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez said Tuesday that he is preparing plenty of verbal "artillery" for his first encounter with President Barack Obama at an upcoming summit.

"Our artillery is being prepared. There's going to be good artillery," Chavez said during a televised Cabinet meeting.

"What will Mr. Obama come with? I don't know. We're going to see. We'll see what the pitcher throws," Chavez said.

Chavez called the U.S. embargo against Cuba "absurd and stupid," saying he hopes to see the new U.S. administration define its stance on the issue.

The socialist leader also called it wrong for Cuba to be excluded from the Americas summit, saying that issue "has to be discussed."

Cuba was expelled from the OAS in 1962 after member nations said its communist regime went against OAS principles.

The White House said that Vice President Joe Biden will travel to Chile and Costa Rica between March 27-30 to consult with Latin leaders ahead of the Trinidad summit.