There is no doubt that the question posed in this article’s title is a complex consideration, especially for those familiar with the so-called “Bilateral Relationship.” After speaking with many in Washington, it became clear that there is no absolute consensus.
Media Scrutiny and Perceptions of Corruption
Mexican media regularly reports on suspicions of collusion between public officials and organized crime at various levels of the Mexican government. You are not alone in reading and hearing about these suspicions, as this information now transcends borders, reflecting in U.S. media as well.
Trump’s Rhetoric and Policies: A Lack of Respect?
To form a more comprehensive and defined opinion, it’s essential to acknowledge the varying perspectives on President Trump’s stance towards Mexico. It’s not just about how the U.S. President views our country, but also that many Democrats in Congress, who have been more amenable to Mexico, now express similar sentiments towards our nation.
Breaking Down Different Perspectives
- Public Rhetoric: Throughout his political career, Donald Trump has employed forceful, often generalizing language when referring to Mexico. Phrases like “bad hombres” and his initial campaign announcement comments about Mexico not sending its “best” have been widely perceived as a lack of respect for the entire nation and its government, not just criminals.
- The Border Wall:
- Tariff Threats: On multiple occasions during his first term, President Trump threatened to impose significant tariffs on Mexican products to compel the Mexican government to take specific actions, particularly regarding migration control. This coercive economic tactic was interpreted by many as a sign that he did not respect Mexico’s right to set its own policies, instead treating it as a subordinate partner.
- “Remain in Mexico” Policies: These policies, known as the Migrant Protection Protocols (MPP), forced thousands of U.S. asylum seekers to wait in Mexico while their cases were processed by the U.S. government, imposing a significant humanitarian and logistical burden on the Mexican government.
Insisting on building a wall along the southern border and that Mexico would pay for it was seen by the Mexican government and public as a deep insult and a violation of national sovereignty. In the U.S., this persistent insistence was interpreted from Trump’s first term as a sign of disrespect, treating Mexico as a subordinate partner rather than an equal.
Addressing the Real Problem
Supporters of President Trump and some foreign policy analysts argue that his objective is not to disrespect Mexico as a nation but to compel effective, efficient, and real actions on a critical and undeniable problem: the immense power of transnational criminal organizations.
Acknowledging a Known Issue
It’s not controversial to state that drug cartels wield significant power in certain parts of Mexico. Similarly, corruption is a substantial challenge within the Mexican government and law enforcement institutions. U.S. agencies, including the DEA and State Department, have documented these issues for decades under various administrations. From this perspective, Trump is merely being more direct and public about a long-standing U.S. concern.
Trump’s Transactional Approach
This viewframe characterizes his approach as “transactional” rather than disrespectful. The argument is that he perceives a problem—drug trafficking and illegal immigration crossing the border—and believes the Mexican government is not doing enough to stop it. Consequently, he uses the significant economic influence of the U.S. to force a result.
Trump’s Focus: Security for Both Americans and Mexicans
His rhetoric, though harsh, is perceived as directed at the security threat posed by cartels. When Trump threatened to designate drug cartels as foreign terrorist organizations, the argument was that this would give the U.S. more legal and practical tools to combat them, aligning with Mexico’s own security interests and those of Mexicans. Recent money laundering investigations are merely part of this already stated policy. We should take Trump at his word and treat it seriously.
Mexico’s Stance Seen as Difficult Balancing Act in Washington
Publicly, there is rejection of President Trump’s foolishness in Mexico. Leaders like former Presidents Enrique Peña Nieto and Andrés Manuel López Obrador have openly rejected Trump’s rhetoric and defended their nation’s sovereignty.
Maintaining Pragmatic Cooperation
Despite public friction and amidst tariff threats, the government of President Claudia Sheinbaum—like her immediate predecessor—had to deploy the National Guard along Mexico’s own borders, north and south, to curb migratory flows from Central America.
This reality has led both governments to increase cooperation in various security areas, including intelligence exchange and operations against cartels. This demonstrates in Washington that while Mexico felt disrespected by Trump, the practical realities of the deep economic relationship between the U.S. and Mexico compelled negotiation and compliance with demands from the White House.
Trump’s Remaining Time in Office: Key Takeaways
- Critics of Trump in Mexico and the U.S. argue that he uses the genuine problem of cartel corruption as a convenient excuse for a broader, more disrespectful policy towards Mexico that serves his domestic political agenda.
- Three years is not a short time, and in Mexico, we must understand that Trump’s supporters argue that few U.S. leaders have been as willing as he is to openly discuss the security crisis affecting both countries.
- In Mexico, we should interpret Trump’s actions as an inflexible tactic to address cartel power rather than a lack of respect for the Mexican government.
We must interpret the U.S. President’s actions in Mexico as politically advantageous rhetoric for Trump. We should also understand and consider that the U.S. President’s primary concern is the impact of his actions within the U.S., and we should not expect him to prioritize altering Mexico’s domestic political landscape. That is a matter solely for Mexicans.
