Mexico’s international coverage is headed towards higher radicalization. The clues have been clear. Newly inaugurated President Claudia Sheinbaum has restricted the diplomatic work of the U.S. ambassador, humiliated the King of Spain and appointed a brand new secretary of International Affairs recognized for his disturbing positions on Russia, Iran and Cuba.
In 2022, Mexico opposed expelling Russia from the United Nations Human Rights Council after the invasion of Ukraine. “Mexico will abstain from supporting the draft decision suspending Russia from its rights as a member of the Human Rights Council” stated Ambassador Juan Ramon de la Fuente, who now’s Mexico’s international minister. Vladimir Putin was additionally invited to Sheinbaum’s presidential inauguration. (He declined to attend.)
Mexico has turned a blind eye towards Iran. “We urge the USA to elevate the unilateral sanctions towards Iran, particularly those who apply extraterritorially or to 3rd states” said de la Fuente on the U.N. Safety Council in 2022. Mexico additionally abstained from condemning Iran’s brutal repression towards girls throughout a vote to expel it from the U.N. Commission on the Status of Women.
Mexico’s alignment with the Cuban regime is severe and shameful. Mexico may very well be a related voice in protection of democracy, nevertheless it prefers to proceed supporting a dictatorship that has been in energy for 65 years and holds greater than 1,100 political prisoners. It has dared to declare that the U.S. should finish its embargo and “restore the injury over Cuba,” in accordance with a statement made by de la Fuente in 2022.
An unfriendly international coverage in the direction of the U.S. in on the rise. President Sheinbaum delivered a diplomatic blow to the U.S. Ambassador in Mexico, Ken Salazar, saying that she won’t talk or meet with any governmental secretary with out first consulting the Ministry of International Affairs. That is how Mexico treats its most important industrial accomplice and the recipient of 83 % of its exports.
Sheinbaum has additionally snubbed President Biden. He announced plans for a gathering along with her, however she surprisingly said no. “I don’t have plans to fulfill with him quickly,” stated Sheinbaum. She additionally famous that Mexico desires to be “very respectful” of the U.S. electoral course of.
Sheinbaum published on X that she spoke by phone along with her U.S. counterpart, stating that they are going to proceed to work on financial, cultural and commerce issues. She omitted safety and migration points, regardless that these are basic areas for the U.S. The silence on these issues says so much.
The seize of cartel kingpin Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada has created new tensions with the U.S. Sheinbaum insists on reproaching its neighbors for the seize of the Sinaloa chief, an operation during which Mexico says it wasn’t taken into consideration. Earlier this yr, the top of the Drug Enforcement Administration, Anne Milgram, revealed that antidrug cooperation from Mexico has been uneven and inadequate.
Sheinbaum has made it clear that she is going to proceed to be a head of state absent from worldwide boards. She will not attend the COP29 Local weather Change Summit in Azerbaijan, giving up her international management within the live performance of countries.
Put together for a six-year time period with little mild and far shadow. Sheinbaum’s international coverage may turn out to be a trench of tyrants and human rights violators, a season of empty chairs and glances to the opposite aspect.
Mexico’s irrational protection of Russia, Iran, Cuba and even Venezuela must be seen as a major problem. Performing like nothing is occurring and calling the present authorities a accomplice just isn’t solely naive however harmful.
The Morena social gathering’s second time period in energy is displaying extra radicalization inside and outdoors the nation. Mexico is on the trail towards much less democracy and higher autocracy, much less diplomacy and higher ideological turbulence. Observers must be optimistic and count on the very best — however all the time put together for the worst.
Arturo McFields Yescas is a former Nicaraguan ambassador to the Group of American States, an exiled journalist and a former member of the Norwegian Peace Corps.
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