What is the risk for Mexico not to condemn Russia for the war in Ukraine – 03/30/2022

Although the Mexican government has taken a stand against the war in Ukraine at the United Nations Assembly, the ambiguity in López Obrador’s speech and the formation of the Friendship Group between Mexico and Russia, by deputies who support the president, raises criticism and could have economic repercussions. and political consequences for the country.

Although the Mexican government has taken a stand against the war in Ukraine at the United Nations Assembly, the ambiguity in López Obrador’s speech and the formation of the Friendship Group between Mexico and Russia, by deputies who support the president, raises criticism and could have economic repercussions. and political consequences for the country.

Historically, Mexico has chosen a diplomatic position in relation to conflicts involving its economic partners and political allies, respecting government autonomy, without imposing unilateral sanctions. And from the start Russian invasion of Ukraine, February 24not different yet.

“We do not support any war,” Andrés Manuel López Obrador said at the time. The president’s statement was seen as superficial by representatives of the Ukrainian government in Mexico who demanded a more concrete stance on the conflict. Hours later, Foreign Minister Marcelo Erbrard stated that the country “strongly disagrees with the invasion of Ukraine”. On March 2, at the UN General Assembly, Mexico, along with 140 other countries, approved a resolution condemning the Russian attack.

Despite the official position, the Mexican government does not comply with the economic and financial sanctions imposed on Russia by countries such as the United States, Canada, France, Japan and the United Kingdom.

“We will not take economic retaliatory measures, because we want to maintain good relations with all governments in the world. We believe that it is best to promote dialogue to achieve peace”, the Mexican president told the press.

According to Mario Ojeda Revah, professor of political science at UNAM (National Autonomous University of Mexico), the Mexican government’s stance on the conflict is ambiguous and could have economic and political consequences for not aligning with the positions of its neighbors, especially neighboring countries. United States and Canada.

“We are facing a hegemonic shift that requires concrete alignments, mainly due to geopolitical and commercial issues. In the case of Mexico, it needs to be aligned with the United States because, like it or not, we are highly connected and even dependent part of the trading bloc and about 80% of the relationship. Our trade is linked to agreements such as T-MEC, the trade agreement between Mexico, the United States and Canada, diversification”, said the researcher.

Data from the State Department confirms those concerns. According to information provided by the government, the United States is Mexico’s main trading partner, which is the main destination for exports from California, Arizona and Texas. In addition, about five million jobs in the United States depend on trade with Mexico, and nearly $1 million is traded every minute between the two countries. Russia, on the other hand, occupies the thirty-fifth position among Mexico’s trading partners.

No sanctions and Mexico-Russia friendship reaffirmed

The absence of a tougher stance from Mexico on the conflict led to more criticism with the formation of a “Mexico-Russian Friendship Group” by left-leaning Labor MPs on March 23. The ceremony was attended by deputies from Morena, the party of Andrés Manuel López Obrador, and Russia’s ambassador to Mexico, Viktor Koronelli. At the time, Koronelli said he “highly respects the position of Mexican president and secretary Marcelo Ebrard, for not supporting sanctions against Russia.”

The group’s formation in the Chamber of Deputies has been the target of protests from the opposition, from figures in Mexican politics, as well as representatives of the country’s Biden and Putin governments.

The US ambassador to Mexico, Ken Salazar, said the closeness between Mexico and Russia was “never to be” a show of support for Vladimir Putin and the assassins.

For the UNAM professor, the López Obrador government has an ambivalent position, which needs to be revised, for economic, ideological and, above all, ethical reasons. “In this conflict it is very clear who the aggressor is, there is no doubt. And the time is now, if we are not going to suffer the consequences”.

Furthermore, he argues, López Obrador cannot risk the Biden administration’s support for his projects. “The US Ambassador to Mexico, Ken Salazar, himself has spoken out against the electricity reform proposed by the president, which is not good for the Mexican government’s plans. In addition, we have important bilateral agreements. to determine our position in the war. so well that we don’t suffer political and economic sanctions from various sectors of the US government,” he said.

Russian spies watching the US from Mexico

In the same week that the friendly group between Mexico and Russia was formed, the head of the US Northern Command, General Glen Van Herck, told US senators that Russia has the largest number of Russian Military Espionage Agency (GRU) spies in Mexico. ), which, he argues, “watches the United States closely”.

Asked about the general’s remarks, President López Obrador said he had no further information on the matter, but said Mexico did not prevent foreigners from carrying out legal activities in the country. He added: “We respect freedom of expression, but we are a free and independent country, not a colony. Neither China nor the United States.”

For UNAM professors, they need to be wary of statements like General Van Heck’s statement.

“We have to be careful because it could be a sign that various sectors of the US government are aware of the lack of a concrete position of the Mexican government in relation to the war, even the Pentagon,” concluded Mario Ojeda Revah.

Clara Burton

"Geek zombie. Subtly charming social media scholar. Beer enthusiast. Lifelong bacon pioneer."

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