The Myths and Rituals That Hold Reason Hostage to Time
The myths and rituals maintain reason hostage to time, particularly in the case of Mexico’s relationship with Cuba.
The False Rebellion Against the United States
Mexico’s supposed defiance against the United States regarding its relationship with Cuba became a myth in 1964. In July of that year, the OEA received a complaint from Venezuela about a conflict with Cuba. The conclusion of the deliberation within the Organization of American States pointed to Cuba as the aggressor nation, resulting in a series of diplomatic and economic sanctions against the island.
Although Bolivia, Chile, Mexico, and Uruguay voted against the resolution, only Mexico maintained diplomatic relations with Cuba.
Secret Diplomacy and the Mexican Image
Jorge I. Domínguez, a Cuban-American educator, wrote in the preface of “Diplomacia encubierta con Cuba; historia de las negociaciones secretas entre Washington y La Habana” (Fondo de Cultura Económica, 2015), that “this heroic Mexican rebellion entered the official shared history of relations between Cuba and Mexico until the end of the 20th century.”
Secretary of State Dean Rusk explained to President Lyndon Johnson that there was a “secret pact” between Brazil, Mexico, and the United States. Rusk commented to Johnson about a meeting of foreign ministers at the end of July, “some of us, Brazil and others, decided to maintain a Latin American embassy there if possible. It would be advantageous for the Mexicans to stay there.”
Domínguez himself acknowledged that “there was no Mexican rebellion towards the end of President Adolfo López Mateos’ term (1958-1964) in maintaining diplomatic relations with Cuba.”
The Mexican government decided to collaborate secretly with the United States as part of its triangular relationship with Cuba.
This role suited Mexico to project an image of autonomous foreign policy while satisfying domestic leftist demands.
The Replication of the Myth Through Rituals
The myth has been perpetuated through rituals, including the actions of Mexico City’s current Chief of Government, Claudia Sheinbaum.
Sheinbaum’s “humanitarian aid” to Cuba is akin to giving an aspirin to a worsening crisis in Cuba. Instead of defiance, it’s a relic of the Cold War era.
Key Questions and Answers
- What was the mythical relationship between Mexico and Cuba? The myth of Mexican defiance against the United States regarding its relationship with Cuba began in 1964, when Mexico maintained diplomatic relations with Cuba while other Latin American countries did not, following OEA sanctions against Cuba.
- Why did Mexico maintain secret diplomacy with the United States? Mexico’s secret collaboration with the United States served to project an image of autonomous foreign policy and satisfy domestic leftist demands.
- How has the myth persisted? The myth of Mexican defiance has been perpetuated through rituals and actions, such as Claudia Sheinbaum’s “humanitarian aid” to Cuba, which does little to address the ongoing crisis in the island nation.
