LIMA: US Vice President Mike Pence abruptly left a banquet late Friday hosted by his Peruvian counterpart ahead of the start of a two-day summit with Latin American leaders and went back to his Lima hotel, reporters travelling with him said.
No reason was given for the sudden departure. But it comes as US Donald Trump, back in Washington, was reportedly due to address the nation over a response to a suspected poison gas attack in Syria.
The United States, France and Britain have been moving warships and aircrafts close to Syria in recent days, fuelling speculation that military action could be imminent.
On Wednesday, Trump spurred that speculation himself by taunting Russia over possible action in Syria, which Moscow has been giving diplomatic and military support to.
“Russia vows to shoot down any and all missiles fired at Syria. Get ready Russia, because they will be coming, nice and new and ‘smart!'” Trump tweeted.