Background and Context
For years, the relationship between the United States and Mexico has been marked by various issues, including water scarcity. This situation has escalated due to urbanization, agricultural practices, mining, industrial activities, and climate change. The water stress generated by these factors has now become another determinant in the bilateral relationship, demanding careful and well-planned remediation.
The Tratado de Aguas de 1944
The Tratado de Aguas de 1944, signed between the United States and Mexico, governs water distribution from rivers shared by both countries. This treaty has recently come to the forefront as water scarcity affects agricultural activities in Texas, particularly those dependent on the Rio Grande (also known as the Río Bravo in Mexico).
Negotiations and Agreements
Under the leadership of President Donald Trump, the US prioritized ensuring a reliable water supply for Texas farmers according to the 1944 Water Treaty. After two weeks of negotiations, Mexico committed to providing the requested water supplies to Texas interests through multiple sources, adding to the 135,683 cubic meters of water already produced during the current hydrological year.
- Immediate transfer of water from the Amistad Dam to two international reservoirs (Amistad and Falcón).
- Increased US participation in six tributaries of the Rio Bravo (Río Grande) in Mexico, as stipulated in the 1944 Water Treaty.
- Additional water deliveries from the San Juan River, subject to US acceptance and allocation for beneficial use.
These measures aim to alleviate water shortages faced by Texas farmers, ranchers, and municipalities along the Rio Grande. Both nations also pledged to develop a long-term plan to consistently meet treaty requirements while addressing outstanding water debts, potentially through additional monthly transfers and regular consultations on water supply that consider Texas users’ needs.
Future Commitments
In two months, representatives from both countries will review the hydrological conditions and the relevance of adopted measures. Regular meetings will continue in the medium term to ensure consistent and reliable water deliveries to Texas users.
Side Effects
ALTANEROS:
The distribution of 72 tenured positions to ISSEMYM doctors, led by Governor Delfina Gómez, concluded with an over-the-top display of popularity by Herminia Cahue Calderón, the state bureaucrats’ union leader. This demonstration was supported by the state treasurer, María Trinidad Franco.
ALTERADOS:
Greenpeace Mexico volunteers gathered at the Plaza de las Tres Culturas to project the faces of billionaires they hold responsible for the climate crisis. This visual protest is part of global demonstrations by Greenpeace affiliates during the first 100 days of the Trump administration, targeting “the multimillionaire and corporate appropriation of people’s rights and freedoms.” Other protest sites included Trump’s Scottish golf course, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg’s Arctic yacht, San Francisco’s Golden Gate Bridge, and the US National Archives in Washington D.C.
