Politics: Moments of decision in Mexican foreign policy
Foreign policy has never been a priority for Andrés Manuel López Obrador. His dismissive approach is best summarized by his slogan that "the best foreign policy is a good domestic policy." The President’s thinking on foreign policy has been to a large extent boiled down to an overall defense of the Estrada Doctrine, whose basic principles are non-interference in the affairs of other countries, the self-determination of peoples, and the peaceful resolution of conflicts; but also in terms of nationalism, it includes the historic memory of colonial and imperial injustices and corresponding demands for their recognition; and an ideological sympathy with and often support for left populist regimes, often authoritarian, in other Latin American countries. Indeed, the 2019-2024 National Development Plan fails to specify objectives and strategies in the field of foreign relations or proactive policies to reposition Mexico as an intermediate power on a global level.
This lack of a clear policy has been reflected in recent incidents involving Austria and Spain, and also in the appointments of ambassadors. Yet two pressing issues require a more defined and balanced approach. The first is the indispensable nature of a partner relationship with the United States, especially in light of the USMCA trade agreement. Mexican foreign policy under AMLO vis a vis the United States included submission to Donald Trump’s policies and demands and disagreements and now, confrontations with the Biden administration over security, migration, energy policy, and alleged U.S. interference in Mexican domestic affairs. To ensure the country’s growth and even for the success of AMLO’s Fourth Transformation project, Mexico needs the confidence of the U.S. government and business community. The second is the Russian invasion of Ukraine, which has highlighted the problems in Mexican foreign policy, with the Ministry of Foreign Relations condemning Moscow with its votes and declarations in the United Nations, while AMLO has emphasized Mexico's refusal to apply sanctions on Russia and his desire to maintain good relations with the country.
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