Mexico Strengthens its Relationship With Key LAC Countries

President López Obrador said the main objective of his fourth presidential trip abroad was to strengthen ties and reach agreements with key countries in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC). During the trip, important agreements were made, especially regarding migration and health issues.

On Thursday, May 5, López Obrador started his his fourth presidential trip abroad, which lasted four days. The president decided to visit Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, Belize and Cuba, as they are important countries in the region and have an significant relationship with Mexico, as well as a high economic growth potential. In all countries, López Obrador met with his counterparts and held meetings on the issues of immigration, development cooperation and economic integration. “Mexico was absent from Latin America for a long time. But today, my government aims to construct a joint future. Let us begin… with collaboration, understanding and mutual respect," said López Obrador.

In Guatemala, López Obrador met with President Alejandro Giammattei to create a binational “good neighbor” policy and tackle migration-related problems. López Obrador emphasized that the main objective is not to stop irregular migration, but to encourage and offer job opportunities in Guatemala so that citizens do not leave the country. In a joint statement, both governments announced that during 2H22, a Ministerial Conference on Migration will be held to promote an Action Plan.

In Honduras, López Obrador and President Xiomara Castro signed an agreement to carry out the López Obrador’s Sowing Life and Youth Building the Future programs, which also seek to address root causes for migration. “With these programs, we want to foster that our citizens who migrate do so by choice and not by obligation. Migration is a right and not a crime,” Castro said. In addition, both countries committed to creating a common agenda to address the main obstacles in the region, which will be promoted at the International Conference for Central America in Honduras.

In Salvador, López Obrador and President Nayib Bukele agreed to invest together in the promotion and implementation Sowing Life and Youth Building the Future programs, too.  Bukele announced that the joint investment could amount to US$60 million. The Salvadorian president stressed that the countries will not wait and become dependent on the US’ reportedly delayed US$4 billion investment.

Meanwhile, Belize Prime Minister Juan Antonio Briceño signed a letter of intent to implement the Sowing Life program. Mexican Foreign Minister Marcelo Ebrard said that the main objective to support Belize’s agricultural producers to generate jobs and strengthen the country's food security. In addition, both countries will exchange knowledge and experiences regarding infrastructure works, particularly in the Mayan Train.

Finally, Cuban president Miguel Díaz-Canel and López Obrador signed two health cooperation agreements to promote medical training, research and emergency assistance, as well as to create a legal framework to develop technical, scientific and academic cooperation. López Obrador explained that the main objective is to address the impacts of COVID-19, in addition to jointly facing other health emergencies.