Politics: AMLO’s absence from Summit of the Americas highlights ongoing tensions with Washington

MEXICO - Report 21 Jun 2022 by Guillermo Valdes and Francisco González

AMLO’s decision to not attend the Summit of the Americas is just his administration’s latest affront to U.S. President Joe Biden. Based on the argument that no countries should be excluded–specifically, Cuba, Venezuela, and Nicaragua–the Mexican president’s absence reduced the importance and impact of the summit and was involved in a public polemic against Biden’s policies. For many, however, including some prominent U.S. politicians, it sent a signal that Mexico prefers the company of dictatorships rather than siding with its main commercial partner. The Mexican president responded aggressively to the criticism, which extended beyond the question of the summit invitations to allegations of AMLO's collaborating with drug cartels. In any event, AMLO’s absence from the summit did little to bolster his leadership role in Latin America. It remains to be seen whether there will be any repercussions from Washington. Any immediate reaction must be seen in the context of the upcoming U.S. mid-term elections in November.

There are several major thorny issues complicating Mexican-U.S. relations. These include migration, both Mexican and from other Latin American countries via the country’s southern border; the public security encompassing the fight against organized crime and corruption within Mexico; new energy policies that restrict the role of foreign companies and affect their existing contracts in the country; the environment, specifically the use of clean energies; labor disputes affecting U.S. companies in Mexico in the framework of the USCMA; and some foreign policy issues such as the response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine. However, despite the need to cooperate, it is clear that there is no real willingness on AMLO’s part to seriously address U.S. concerns.

While the White House will avoid a confrontation and crisis in the bilateral relationship, there are signs its attitude to Mexico could be less friendly and cooperative. While everything is on hold, relatively speaking, due to the U.S. elections, this could well change in 2023 as pressure mounts on AMLO ahead of Mexico’s presidential succession.

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