MEXICO CITY, Reuters – Mexican President Andres Manuel Obrador stated Tuesday that the U.S. economic embargo on Cuba was “genocidal” and raised the stakes in a dispute with Washington regarding its treatment of the Communist-ruled Caribbean island.

Lopez Obrador is a leftist, who repeatedly calls for the United States end the embargo. He stated earlier in May that, without invitation from all the countries of the region, he wouldn’t attend the Summit of the Americas hosted by the United States.

Lopez Obrador, speaking at a government news conference regularly, said that America “looked terrible” when it treated Cuba and asked Washington to end its embargo.

“It’s a genocidal policy,” Lopez Obrador said.

He still welcomed U.S. moves on Monday to relax some Trump-era island restrictions and speed up processing U.S visas for Cubans.

Lopez Obrador will meet Wednesday with the U.S. delegation to the Summit of the Americas. He plans to share his reasons why Mexico invites all the countries of the region.