“Relationship between countries, not between parties”

Interview with Esteban Moctezuma, Mexican ambassador to the US

A few hours before yesterday’s midterm elections, the Mexican ambassador to the United States, Esteban Moctezuma Barragán, comments on the possible implications that a victory for the Republican Party would have for Mexico: the issues it would affect would range from programs for immigrants to human rights issues. humans. The ambassador emphasizes the intense dialogue that exists between the United States and Mexico.

—How will the midterm elections in the United States impact the bilateral relationship?

The emphasis on some policies is what varies between the Republican Party and the Democratic Party. For example, the immigration issue is very likely that, if the Republicans win, the issue of DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, for its acronym in English, a program known as that of the dreamers) will remain frozen because this is an initiative that the Democrats have been pushing fundamentally. There are human rights and civil rights issues that would also surely be left behind. There are border issues that are going to raise the tone, rather than measures, in emphasizing what affects them. But I dare to say that the relationship in substance, in its fundamental bases, can occur perfectly well with Republicans and Democrats. Our relationship is between countries, not between parties.

—In the event that the Republican Party wins in both chambers, the Mexican government is prepared to generate some change, for example, in matters of cooperation in security or migration.

Well, in fact, Mexico and not only Mexico as a country but this government in particular, has already worked with Republicans and Democrats. So we have experience in working with the United States and the variants that each party gives it, since it is part of what we can resolve with intelligence and diplomacy.

—How would you rate the bilateral relationship at the moment?

It is a relationship with an intense dialogue. In fact, you see how public servants come and go from the United States to Mexico. The last one was (John) Kerry. Foreign Minister Ebrard was from Mexico to the United States a few days ago. And we are constantly in communication. So, I would describe it as a constant dialogue and a relationship not only of neighbors but of partners.

—The North American Summit will take place in December, and it will take place at a complex time due to the issue of consultations on energy matters. Would the summit be the last chance to prevent a panel from being installed?

No, in fact, the summit does not have the purpose of talking about other mechanisms that have their own space and their own rhythm. The Ministry of Economy, which is in charge of seeing this, has just had a conversation with the Office of Commerce, which Katherine Tai manages, so we think that we will continue in the conversations before a decision is made by United States on whether or not there is a panel. And this is dependent on these conversations being successful. If these conversations are not successful then it goes to the panel. The panel can last around 8 months, a year and after the panel, there is still a period to agree again. So they are long processes where it is best to agree and I believe that the Ministry of Economy has enough space to play a very good role.

—What can you tell us about the next North American summit in which Mexico will host?

The three countries must form a united, competitive and humanistic region. Humanist because we must defend values, we must defend human rights, democracy, freedoms and I think that is something extremely important. It is a very important summit. North America is a concept that we are pushing very hard at the embassy.

@BravoLucy