Mexico has named a new ambassador to the United States, Esteban Moctezuma. Ambassador Moctezuma has previously held high level positions in the Mexican federal government, served in the Senate, and has worked in the private sector. His appointment as ambassador sends a signal that the relationship is a priority for Mexico.
The bilateral relationship is undoubtedly important and complex for both neighbors. It is comprised of numerous factors, including a long historical background, a shared border, citizens of one country living in the other, high volumes of investments, trade, financial, technological and academic flows, cultural relations, and tourism, among others.
Joe Biden’s arrival at the White House gives both countries the opportunity to re-launch new paths which favor project initiatives with a cooperative tone. It will not be an easy task; it will require mutual understandings and concessions and a constructive spirit to reduce bilateral tension and disagreements. There are also several current issues affecting the relationship, such as immigration issues, including both Mexican and Central American immigrants who come to the United States by travelling across Mexico in their attempt to reach the United States, and energy issues, which require Mexico to have a new tone of cooperation and respect to the commitments on matters of private, domestic and foreign investment in the sector. The importance of this cooperation was evident in the crisis caused by the winter storm that so seriously affected Texas and the northern states of Mexico. This highlighted the health issues that exist as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and its effect on both the health of each country’s inhabitants and their economies. One can only hope that the U.S. and Mexican presidents find the opportunity to establish a personal relationship and see each other face to face, as millions of Americans and Mexicans do on a daily basis.
