Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador has publicly criticized the United States’ approach to Venezuela and Cuba, along with its aid to Ukraine, as high-level meetings between the two nations commenced in Washington.
López Obrador voiced a broad disapproval of U.S. foreign policy, asserting that economic sanctions imposed by the U.S. are a significant factor compelling people to emigrate from Venezuela, Cuba, and Nicaragua. This statement coincided with the U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo, and Trade Representative Katherine Tai engaging in discussions with their Mexican counterparts, including Foreign Secretary Alicia Bárcena and Secretary of Economy Raquel Buenrostro, at the State Department. Notably, López Obrador’s remarks were neither addressed nor questioned during these meetings.
Instead, the discussions centered on strengthening trade and economic partnerships. Both sides emphasized their commitment to enhanced cooperation in these areas and underscored their joint resolve to combat the influx of synthetic opioids, particularly fentanyl, into the U.S. from Mexico.
“By establishing favorable incentives and business environments, and by leveraging the unique strengths of both our nations, we have a remarkable opportunity to position North America as the most competitive, productive, and dynamic region globally,” stated Secretary Blinken. He further highlighted ongoing efforts to “strengthen, expand, and diversify supply chains within emerging industries such as electric vehicles and semiconductors,” mentioning a new joint initiative between the U.S. and Mexico aimed at semiconductor production.
While Friday’s discussions primarily addressed commerce, Secretary Blinken is scheduled to lead a U.S. delegation to Mexico the following week, accompanied by Attorney General Merrick Garland and Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas. These subsequent meetings are expected to concentrate on border security and migration issues. The State Department has confirmed that Blinken will meet with President López Obrador during this visit, scheduled for October 4-5.
Experts suggest that economic mismanagement and political repression are the primary drivers behind the significant migration flows from Venezuela and Cuba.
President López Obrador proposed that the United States should redirect some of the funds allocated to Ukraine towards economic development initiatives in Latin America. “They (the U.S.) don’t do anything,” he commented. “It’s considerably more, vastly more, what they approve for the war in Ukraine than what they allocate to alleviate poverty in Latin America and the Caribbean.”
He advocated for a U.S. policy shift that would “remove blockades and cease the harassment of independent and sovereign countries, [and implement] an integrated cooperation plan so that Venezuelans, Cubans, Nicaraguans, Ecuadorians, Guatemalans, and Hondurans would not be compelled to emigrate.”
Recent weeks have witnessed a surge in Venezuelan migrants traversing Mexico in an attempt to reach the U.S. border. These migrants frequently cite worsening economic and political conditions in Venezuela as the reason for undertaking this arduous journey.
Mexico has officially condemned Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. However, it has adopted a stance of neutrality and has declined to participate in international sanctions against Russia. Mexico also continues to procure COVID-19 vaccines from Russia and Cuba, specifically those developed in 2020.
President López Obrador dismissed efforts by U.S. Republican lawmakers to reduce the limited foreign aid provided to Mexico. He estimated the amount at “ridiculous” levels of $40 or $50 million.
