We are starting from the point that Andrés Manuel López Obrador knows that he cannot impose his views on Joe Biden. So why does he want to kick Samson?
Cuba, Venezuela, and Nicaragua embody everything the United States is fighting against. They are dictatorships that have entrenched themselves in the region. To which we must add that the global context makes them of special concern. Because while democracy is at its lowest point, with only 6% of the global population living under a full democracy, dictatorships are multiplying around the world and that sets off alarms.
Hence the fact that these nations have not been summoned to the Summit of the Americas, which will take place next June in Los Angeles, and that the threat of the Mexican president not to go to the Summit if these countries, could be interpreted as a bullet to democracy and a hug to dictatorships.
Mexico is sending the wrong messages to the world and this caused the prompt visit of the US ambassador to Mexico, Ken Salazar, to the National Palace. Surely to confirm if what happened was serious, or a joke in bad taste.
What does the president earn? Does he really want to kick Samson? Is his love for Cuba, Venezuela and Nicaragua that much?
There could be much more behind it.
From the national point of view, solidarity with Cuba, Venezuela and Nicaragua serves as a smoke screen and political capital.
Few things ignite Mexican nationalism in the same way that rebellion against the United States does, and this is of great use while the country is not going through its best moment. In April, the inflation registered in Mexico reached the highest level recorded in two decades, with 7.68%, and our economy went from 15th to 17th place in the world ranking. In addition to the fact that the violence does not stop and this is reflected both in the case of Debanhi Escobar, the 11 journalists murdered so far this year, and the intentional homicides that reached their highest point in March.
In the bilateral perspective, this occurs in a framework of tensions over energy policy, the difference in positions with respect to Ukraine, and migration. By not attending, you can avoid committing to a joint statement on any of these issues.
Finally, from an international perspective, this is happening when the ravages of the pandemic and the war in Ukraine have forced the world to think about new geopolitical realities. Being able to compare in a parallel way the fact that while Macron speaks of the creation of a European Political Union that is capable of including Ukraine without so much bureaucracy, AMLO speaks in Cuba of a Latin American Union, similar to the European Union. With the difference that on this side of the world, the economy and geography tell us that it would only be viable politically.
The latter is important, because it is the first time in a long time that so many left-wing populist governments coincide in the region. We are talking about 10 that could become 12 by the end of the year. Mexico’s actions can also be interpreted as a prelude to what is coming to the United States, in a region in which it has not been interested.
The kicks with Samson have bottom.
Last one out, turn off the light.
Twitter: @HenaroStephanie
Geopolitics teacher
Last one out turn off the light
Mexican analyst and commentator. She studied international relations at the Tecnológico de Monterrey CCM and at the Institute of Political Studies in Paris (Sciences-Po). She has a specialization in Russian foreign policy from MGIMO in Moscow and a master’s degree in Geopolitics, Territory and Security from King’s College London in England.