The Mexican government conducts a humanist and people-centered foreign policy

The Mexican government conducts a humanist and people-centered foreign policy

• During President Andrés Manuel López Obrador's administration, the government has forged a solid cooperative relationship with the United States, Latin America, and the Caribbean.
• The administration introduced the Mexican Model of Human Mobility and reinforced the consular protection provided to the Mexican community abroad.
• Mexico is the first country in the Global South to adopt a feminist foreign policy, and has made the construction of international peace and security a hallmark of the administration.

At today's morning press conference led by President López Obrador, Foreign Secretary Alicia Bárcena discussed the foreign policy of the current administration, which is guided by the Model of Mexican Humanism. This model puts people at the center, addressing the needs of all Mexicans, both within Mexico and abroad, in order to contribute to the construction of a more just, stable, and peaceful system.

The Foreign Secretary outlined the solid cooperative relationship with the United States, including the 9th and 10th North American Leaders' Summits, the creation of the Trilateral Fentanyl Committee, and ratification of the USMCA in 2019.

She highlighted the paradigm shift in Mexico's cooperation with the Global South, especially in Latin America and the Caribbean. She noted that Mexico chaired the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) in 2020-2021 and organized the 6th CELAC Summit, which brought together 30 countries and 16 heads of state for the first time. They agreed on a Health Self-Sufficiency Plan and the creation of the Latin American and Caribbean Space Agency (ALCE) and Disaster Response Fund (FACRID).

Secretary Bárcena explained the administration's Mexican Model of Human Mobility, which addresses the structural causes, political and economic factors driving migration. "We have changed the narrative even in the United States, which previously did not talk about structural causes This has been achieved thanks to President López Obrador."

"We have managed to reduce migration at the border by 77% compared to December, and have expanded labor mobility programs with companies that are hiring migrants and refugees." She added, "We have taken a humanitarian approach to irregular migration. We are addressing issues in the countries of origin with programs such as Sembrando Vida (Sowing Life) and Jóvenes Construyendo el Futuro (Youths Building the Future), so that migration is an option and not an obligation."

Regarding consular protection for the Mexican community abroad, Secretary Bárcena stated that, per President López Obrador's instructions, the consulates have become defenders of the Mexicans in the United States, especially in criminal matters. "In this administration, no Mexican has been sentenced to death, and about 1,200 Mexicans avoided that penalty."

She reaffirmed the government's commitment to the Mexican community abroad. It has expanded the consular network in the U.S. and improved services, including registration with the Mexican social programs like the Social Security Institute (IMSS), the Federal Taxpayers Registry (RFC), the National Housing Fund (Infonavit) and Finabien.

Secretary Bárcena emphasized that the construction of international peace and security has been a hallmark of President López Obrador's administration, with strategic lawsuits such as the one against U.S. gunmakers.

She also highlighted the two cycles of negotiations between the Government of Colombia and the National Liberation Army, held in Mexico, where the parties decided to disarm. "Mexico advocates for lasting peace, in accordance with international law."

On Ecuador, she referred to the case in the International Court of Justice, "for the flagrant violation of our embassy and, above all, the attack on our personnel."

Regarding political asylum and refuge, Mexico offers political asylum to those whose life, safety and freedom are threatened. "It is a Mexican tradition, and in this administration, asylum was granted to 82 people from Bolivia, Ecuador, El Salvador, Peru, and Venezuela," she said.

"The concept of asylum has saved the lives of hundreds of thousands of people. We have received 140,000 requests for asylum and around 50,000 asylum applications have been approved," she said.

Secretary Bárcena also underscored the recovery of Mexico's historical heritage. "We have repatriated 15,000 pre-Hispanic pieces through seizures, voluntary returns, and by stopping auctions."

Lastly, she mentioned the actions of the Mexican government during the COVID-19 pandemic. It acquired more than 200 million vaccines and donated vaccines and medical supplies to countries that did not have access to them, in addition to repatriating Mexican nationals.

The foreign policy of the Fourth Transformation has strengthened Mexico's global prestige, leadership, and relevance, bringing Mexican humanism to the world, as a more just Mexico is only possible in a more egalitarian world.