During the week, the Mexican President visited the President of the United States in Washington, D.C., an expected meeting that generated many expectations from the Mexican side about the outcomes and joint commitments that would be created and what would emerge as a matter of joint action for both countries. The meeting, as it usually happens on these issues, was commented widely in the press and public opinion in Mexico, but not so much in the United States. The above is normal since there are many topics covered daily in the capital of the United States.
I think the meeting went well formally, in the sense that there were no negative or adverse signals to either side involved. As usual, joint statements, official photos and some speeches were issued. A series of commitments were also agreed upon, according to press statements and official statements. But I think we have to ask ourselves what the true scope of these commitments is and whether they will be truly satisfactory and relevant to binational agendas.
As we discussed last week, the meeting seems to reflect an obvious fact: both countries and delegations seem to talk more to the internal audience and this communication seems to characterize the internal agenda on both sides (and for this it is necessary to understand which are the goals and ambitions of both governments to understand the causes and causes). In other words, in terms of public diplomacy, the meeting was a success because there is nothing to object to about the facts. However, the fundamental question is how to make cooperation truly more effective and for the agreements reached to become reality and not just goodwill.
Why do I say the above? Because regardless of this and especially if each president speaks to his inner audience, there are actually historical opportunities to seize, especially in light of what will happen politically in the future in the American capital. Let’s look at it this way: there may not be a Mexican president with such internal strength and a US president willing to cooperate and compromise in order to achieve greater bilateral cooperation. The relationship between Mexico and the United States usually has its ups and downs, and political agendas and will are not always willing to help the neighbor. As we have established before, national interests prevented the two peoples from reaching and achieving more.
The issue today will be to take advantage of this unique situation and translate it into concrete actions that will benefit both countries. Diplomatic speeches and compromises are good, they talk about a good understanding and so on. But the truth is that often it is not enough to apply, advance and embody it in concrete facts. One factor to consider is the push shown by the private sector and business meeting of both countries towards their respective governments. There are different interests, but it will also be a mirror of reality in a less formative way.
