Biden Hosts Uruguay President at Surprise White House Meeting

President Joe Biden discussed democracy, trade and climate change on Tuesday with Uruguay President Luis Lacalle Pou at the White House in an unannounced visit by one of Latin America’s last centrist leaders.

In the meeting, Biden praised Uruguay as “a regional and global model for democratic governance,” according to a statement from the White House. He also commended his counterpart’s support for Ukraine — a contrast to President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva in neighboring Brazil, who said earlier this year that that nation and Russia share responsibility for the war in Europe.

The American president also cited Lacalle ...