Introduction
The appointment of Alberto Barranco instead of Bernardo Barranco as Mexico’s ambassador to the Vatican is not an isolated incident. President AMLO initially chose Bernardo, but a bureaucratic error led to Alberto’s unexpected selection. This event highlights the broader concerns surrounding Mexico’s diplomatic decisions and their implications.
Mexico’s Stance on Women’s Rights at the UN
In December 2022, President AMLO and Mexico’s head of the Permanent Mission to the UN, Juan Ramón de la Fuente, abstained from expelling Iran from the UN organization advocating for women’s rights. This came three months after Iranian police killed Mahsa Amini for removing her veil inside a public prosecutor’s office.
Mexico’s seemingly indifferent stance towards this inhumane act has raised questions about the true nature of its foreign policy principles. These principles, when scrutinized, reveal questionable decisions and alliances.
Martha Delgado’s Role and Silence
At the time, Martha Delgado, then-Deputy Secretary for Multilateral Affairs and Human Rights at the Foreign Ministry, promoted Mexico’s “Feminist Foreign Policy” in various countries’ embassies. Despite her enthusiasm for this policy, she remained silent when Mexico’s position at the UN was criticized for being equidistant from Iran’s actions.
Mexico’s Shifting Positions on Human Rights
Initially, Mexico abstained from voting on a resolution to investigate Iran’s human rights violations at the UN. Eventually, Mexico voted in favor of the resolution, acknowledging that human rights violations cannot be addressed with timid decisions.
Alejandro Gertz Manero, a controversial figure, has repeatedly invoked Mexico’s foreign policy principles to secure a senator-approved position as ambassador to London.
Questionable Foreign Policy Decisions
Mexico’s foreign policy principles have been put to the test in various instances. For example, granting asylum to Betssy Chávez, accused of participating in a Peruvian-led coup attempt by Pedro Castillo, and defending Evo Morales despite his failed insurrection in 2019 that resulted in numerous fatalities.
Marcelo Ebrard’s embrace of Evo Morales will be remembered as a betrayal of Bolivian democracy.
Roberto Velasco, the current Deputy Secretary, demonstrates willingness but faces challenges in negotiating with the United States. Mike Pompeo’s book circulates within the Department of State as a negotiation manual with Mexico, while Ebrard requested that the de facto third-country safe agreement remain confidential.
The lack of containment measures against Trump’s influence and Mexico’s struggling diplomacy have further strained relations. The decline in Mexico’s Latin American allies is a growing concern.
Key Questions and Answers
- What is the controversy surrounding Mexico’s diplomatic appointments? The appointment of Alberto Barranco instead of Bernardo Barranco as ambassador to the Vatican, following a bureaucratic error, has raised questions about Mexico’s diplomatic decision-making processes.
- How has Mexico’s stance on women’s rights been criticized? Mexico abstained from expelling Iran from a UN organization advocating for women’s rights following the killing of Mahsa Amini by Iranian police. Critics argue that this stance reflects questionable foreign policy principles.
- What are some examples of Mexico’s questionable foreign policy decisions? Granting asylum to Betssy Chávez, accused of participating in a coup attempt, and defending Evo Morales despite his failed insurrection that resulted in numerous fatalities are examples of contentious decisions.
- How has Mexico’s diplomacy been affected by its relationships with the United States and Latin America? Mexico faces challenges in negotiating with the United States, and its declining influence in Latin America has raised concerns about its diplomatic standing.
