Mexico: Something Has Run Out with the United States

Mexico's current diplomatic approach with the United States appears to be faltering, marked by escalating tensions rather than the expected improvement during the Trump administration. The article posits that Mexico is not alone in facing hostility, attacks, and difficult truths from the current White House, but suggests that no country, perhaps with the exception of China, has found a perfect balance between defense and avoidance when dealing with Trump.

A key takeaway is that Mexico's established mechanisms for managing the relationship have either failed or become exhausted. Past strategies, such as preemptive concessions like a 50% tariff on Chinese imports to Mexico or deploying military personnel to the U.S. border to curb migration, alongside frequent phone calls and public responses to U.S. criticisms, are no longer effective.

The article points to specific areas of friction, including the DEA chief's remarks on cartel-government ties, trade representative statements about reducing Mexico's trade surplus under USMCA, and potential deliberate leaks from U.S. agencies targeting Mexican officials. These issues, spanning security, trade, migration, and the treatment of Mexicans in the U.S., suggest a more coordinated, if not holistic, U.S. strategy.

With personal meetings between the presidents absent and communication largely confined to phone calls and public pronouncements, the relationship seems to be in a state of continuous escalation. The analysis implies a need for Mexico to fundamentally rethink its diplomatic tactics and explore new avenues to navigate the complex and often confrontational dynamic with its northern neighbor.