Mexico: Relationship With US Closer Than Assumed

America First For Me 

Mexico First For Thee

But I'm sure Trump is still a waaahcist.

MEXICO CITY (AP) — Mexico’s foreign relations secretary said Friday that it might come as a surprise but his country’s relationship with the United States today is “more fluid” and “closer” than it was with previous U.S. administrations. 

Mexico has had well-publicized disagreements with President Donald Trump during the past year over trade, immigration and payment for a proposed border wall. 

But Foreign Relations Secretary Luis Videgaray said that “with the Trump administration, we’re committed to having a very close communication and that has proven to be a tremendous benefit for the relationship.” 

“It might be surprising to some people, but that’s a fact of life,” Videgaray said at a joint news conference in Mexico with U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and Canadian Foreign Affairs Minister Chrystia Freeland. 

The three countries are currently renegotiating the North American Free Trade Agreement. 

Tillerson’s stop in Mexico kicked off a six-day Latin America trip that will also take him to Panama, Argentina, Peru, Colombia and Jamaica. He was greeted in Mexico City by a handful of protesters holding up signs reading “Dreamers, Trump’s hostages,” and “We are workers, not terrorists, not criminals.” 

The three spoke about security concerns, especially the trafficking in opiates and synthetic opiates like fentanyl that have caused a wave of overdose deaths. “Given the deadly nature of the opioid crisis, we must do more to attack the business model of those who traffic drugs and guns,” said Tillerson. 

Asked about reports of Russian meddling in Mexico’s July 1 presidential elections, Tillerson said “we know that Russia has fingerprints on elections around the world … my advice to Mexico would be to pay attention.” 

The three officials said they also discussed the political and economic crisis in Venezuela and its government’s decision to push up presidential elections to April under conditions that opponents say overwhelmingly favor President Nicolas Maduro, who is so far the only candidate. 

“We shared our concerns for the humanitarian crisis that has unfolded in Venezuela,” Tillerson said. “We all urge the Maduro regime to return to free, open credible, democratic elections.”