Juan Ramón de la Fuente Calls for Ending Arms Race and Prioritizing Diplomacy
At the United Nations General Assembly, Mexico’s Secretary of Foreign Affairs, Juan Ramón de la Fuente, advocated for reinforcing multilateralism, halting the arms race, and emphasizing diplomacy as a means to resolve conflicts. He also highlighted Mexico’s commitment to international law and human rights.
Speaking on Behalf of President Claudia Sheinbaum
De la Fuente represented President Claudia Sheinbaum, the first female president of Mexico, in addressing global issues. He pointed out that poverty persists amidst global wealth, while military spending has grown three times the world’s economy.
“The arms race, the immoral concentration of wealth, and violations of international law are the fuel that feeds war and violence,” he stated.
Urgent Call for Ceasefires in Conflict Zones
De la Fuente reiterated Mexico’s urgent call for ceasefires in ongoing conflicts such as Gaza and Ucrania, insisting that “wars must stop now” and solutions should be negotiated with the participation of all parties.
“In the face of weapon proliferation, policy, mediation, diplomacy, law, and dialogue should be prioritized,” he asserted.
Mexico’s Historical Stances in Foreign Policy
The foreign minister reaffirmed Mexico’s historical positions in its foreign policy, such as opposition to economic sanctions and unilateral sanctions. He emphasized condemnation of the embargo against Cuba and demanded its removal from the list of countries sponsoring terrorism.
Regarding migration, he clarified that Mexico opposes the criminalization of those forced to leave their homes. “Migrants are individuals with rights who enrich their host communities,” he said, stressing that addressing structural causes is essential for safer and more ordered migration.
UN’s Future and Mexico’s Expectations
De la Fuente warned that the UN cannot be sidelined and must return to its foundational principles of peace, sustainable development, and human rights. He expressed confidence that the next UN Secretary-General, “hopefully a woman from our region,” will drive the necessary transformation for the institution.
Key Achievements of Mexico’s Fourth Public Life Transformation
De la Fuente also presented an overview of what he called Mexico’s “Fourth Transformation of Public Life,” emphasizing that the national project is based on a moral economy and social justice.
- UN recognition of poverty reduction affecting 13.5 million people
- Decrease in inequality
- Universal pension for the elderly
- Large-scale reforestation program
He asserted that Mexico’s international credibility is built on these domestic achievements, linking the well-being of its population to global advocacy for peace and international law.
Key Questions and Answers
- Who is Juan Ramón de la Fuente? He is Mexico’s Secretary of Foreign Affairs, representing President Claudia Sheinbaum at the United Nations General Assembly.
- What is Mexico’s stance on the arms race? Mexico urges prioritizing diplomacy, mediation, and dialogue over the arms race.
- What are some key achievements of Mexico’s domestic policies? These include poverty reduction affecting 13.5 million people, decreased inequality, a universal pension for the elderly, and a large-scale reforestation program.
- What is Mexico’s position on migration? Mexico opposes criminalizing migrants and emphasizes addressing structural causes for safer migration.
- What are Mexico’s expectations for the UN? Mexico expects the UN to uphold its foundational principles of peace, sustainable development, and human rights.
