The before: a quick look at what many analysts have said and written in recent days regarding what would be the trilateral meeting between the leaders of Canada, Justin Trudeau; United States, Joe Biden; and Mexico, Andrés Manuel López Obrador, allows to affirm that they expected something like a scolding, a wake-up call, a slap or something similar. The topics were many: environment, electrical reform, Cuba, among the most prominent. There were not a few who “knew” the feelings, tastes or thoughts of the US president: Biden is not going to like AMLO’s speech regarding Cuba; Sure Biden Is Disgusted By Electricity Reform; Trudeau and Biden will find the attachment to fossil fuels, etc., intolerable.
At this point, I hope the reader knows what I mean. From these “readings” on the thoughts, feelings and tastes of President Biden and Prime Minister Trudeau, expressions such as the following were passed: the trilateral meeting will draw sparks; clashes will be inevitable and other phrases like that. It could be said that it was a wish rather than an analysis. Yes, political passion clouds us all.
I think deep down we expected someone from outside to do what we cannot do: say three or four facts to López Obrador and that he would have to be quiet and attentive. What we can’t do inside we expected Biden and Trudeau to do. In other words, we made it an idée fixe that Biden would be able to do what we could not: put President López Obrador in his place. For the rest, how good that it was not. I think that a public clash with Biden would have opened the door for AMLO’s radicalization towards a course that many of us do not want: that of attrition, that of more demagoguery, attacks on the media and journalists and the idea that “his” project was endangered by the perversity of the “empire.” Do you think that President López cannot be more radicalized? They are wrong.
During: AMLO was fulfilling his agenda as planned: meeting with Trudeau, then with Kamala Harris, the bilateral one with Biden and finally the expected one, that of the three friends. It was a very media tour. I dare to suppose that after each event a sort of signal to the Mexican president was expected. The two previous visits to the United States were, one, as Trump’s subordinate and, the other, to speak in the Security Council a series of truisms, lies and a well-intentioned, but poorly structured proposal. So the antecedents did not allow to hope for something positive.
But no, all the meetings were full of praise, smiles and good wishes. The diplomacy that was to be expected.
The results: a first reading allows us to assume that President López did well. There were no bumps or calls for attention; he allowed himself to wink at Mexican migrants by asking for treatment without prejudice and when he made a sweet acknowledgment of Biden’s proposal to regularize 11 million migrants; He also winked at Central Americans and Latin Americans in general when he proposed a trade agreement with all of America and a program to support Central America; likewise, when he requested that “orderly” migration be allowed to the United States and Canada; It also obtained funds for Sembrando Vida and Jóvenes Construjando el Futuro in southern Mexico and Central America. In short, he accomplished enough to remain here bragging about his cause. Will all of that be done? No, only what suits the United States in terms of migration, economy and security.
Now the performances will begin. Those who mistreat López will point out that in short they put him in his place and that he did not deal with all the issues that interest our country (which is true); those who follow him will affirm that he was brilliant. Each side will give the words a convenient meaning. The reality is that if there were substantial differences (and presumably there were) these were aired in short, in the bilateral meetings or in those of the ministers and secretaries. In the coming weeks we will see if there are corrections or changes in the presidential decisions regarding various issues.
The North American region has more serious problems than correcting each other in public: overwhelmed migration, a strong presence of organized crime, inflation, and an economy that is being overtaken by Asia. López Obrador knows it and that’s why he played that waltz: he knew the members would be interested.
Those who expected a morning Lopez were wrong. The crossing of the Rio Grande has a kind of spell on the president: it makes him humble (submissive?), Attentive and a little more reasonable. But that president we saw there is the American version, what we have here is the same as every morning: intolerant, liar, mocking and, most importantly, ineffective.
Reference-www.eleconomista.com.mx