United States President Joe Biden recently met with his Mexican counterpart Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador to discuss issues regarding the economy, gas prices, and immigration.
In the two international leaders' meeting on Tuesday at the White House, the awkward tension was notable with Obrador's mere presence alongside Biden. It also shows the complex relationship that the United States and Mexico now share.
Biden and Obrador
The Mexican president's visit to the White House comes after he skipped out on Biden's Summit of the Americas that was held last month. He criticized the U.S. for not inviting other regions, including Cuba, Nicaragua, and Venezuela. Furthermore, the official challenged the U.S. on energy policies, drug enforcement, and the prosecution of Julian Assange.
The two presidents sought to reaffirm a partnership that they both agreed was necessary to address global inflation amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine, migration, and the surge in fentanyl trafficking. However, Obrador also seemed to indicate that there was still tension between the two administrations, as per the New York Times.
The Mexican president is known for seldom passing up an opportunity to poke the Biden administration. At one point during the discussion, he mentioned how Americans living along the border have crossed into Mexico for gas at lower prices amid soaring inflation in the U.S.
"In spite of our differences and also in spite of our grievances that are not really easy to forget with time or with good wishes. We've been able to coincide and we've been able to work together as good friends and true allies," said Obrador.
According to USA Today, in one key message during their meeting, Obrador wanted Biden to let Mexico do its own thing. He reminded the Democratic leader of former President Franklin D. Roosevelt's "Good Neighbor" policy, which avoided interference in domestic affairs in Latin America, while also engaging in reciprocal exchanges with that region, including trade.
International Issues
Former diplomats, however, have cast skepticism over the meeting and its potential to bring successful measures. The former U.S. ambassador to Mexico, Arturo Sarukhan, said that Obrador has, unfortunately, realized that he's got a great deal of leverage because of how important the issue of migration is for the United States at this point in time.
The Mexican president also recommended that the U.S. should "regularize" migrants living and working in the country, even though he argued that conservatives would be "screaming all over the place." He added that he increased temporary work visas to ensure that there was no labor shortage.
Obrador added that it was crucial to regularize and give certainty to migrants who have been living and working honestly in the country for years and have been contributing greatly to the development of the country. Despite his recommendations, the Mexican president did not explicitly say that he was calling for a pathway to citizenship for illegal immigrants who are already in the country.
He continued to tell Biden that without a "daring, bold program of development and well-being," the U.S. will not be able to solve its problems. Obrador added that the way out of a time of crisis is not using conservatism but through transformation, Fox News reported.
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