The Mexican president tells Trump that Mexico is a neighbor, not a doormat.
President-elect Trump spoke on the phone with Mexico's president, Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo.
Trump promptly claimed "mission accomplished" on Truth Social:
"Just had a wonderful conversation with the new President of Mexico, Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo. She has agreed to stop Migration through Mexico, and into the United States, effectively closing our Southern Border."She disagreed, promptly "clarifying" on Twitter/X:
“In our conversation with President Trump, I explained to him the comprehensive strategy that Mexico has followed to address the migration phenomenon, respecting human rights. We reiterate that Mexico’s position is not to close borders but instead build bridges between government and people.”
The following letter is a translation into English of her follow-up letter to Trump. It is a primary source, written in the measured, firm-but-polite manner of diplomacy, so there is no trace of emotion. No indignation. No accusation. It is a cool statement of facts and position. Within the genre of international diplomacy leader-to-leader communication, it is a sharp push-back. She is saying, in effect: Not so fast, fella. We aren't the problem, YOU are the problem. And if you impose new tariffs, it's going to bite you in the ass.
Letter from Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo
“Dear President-elect Donald Trump, I am writing to you regarding your statement on Monday, November 25, concerning migration, fentanyl trafficking, and tariffs. You may not be aware that Mexico has developed a comprehensive policy to assist migrants from different parts of the world who cross our territory en route to the southern border of the United States. As a result, and according to data from your country’s Customs and Border Protection (CBP), encounters at the Mexico–United States border have decreased by 75% between December 2023 and November 2024. Moreover, half of those who arrive do so through a legally scheduled appointment under the United States’ CBP One program. For these reasons, migrant caravans no longer arrive at the border. Even so, it is clear that we must work together to create a new labor mobility model that is necessary for your country, as well as address the root causes that compel families to leave their homes out of necessity. If even a small percentage of what the United States allocates to war were instead dedicated to building peace and fostering development, it would address the underlying causes of human mobility. On another note, and for humanitarian reasons, Mexico has consistently expressed its willingness to help prevent the fentanyl epidemic in the United States from continuing. This is, after all, a public health and consumption problem within your society. So far this year, Mexican armed forces and prosecutors have seized tons of various types of drugs, 10,340 firearms, and have detained 15,640 individuals for violence related to drug trafficking. Furthermore, the Mexican Congress is in the process of approving a constitutional reform to classify the production, distribution, and commercialization of fentanyl and other synthetic drugs as a serious crime without bail. However, it is publicly known that the chemical precursors used to produce this and other synthetic drugs are illegally entering Canada, the United States, and Mexico from Asian countries. This underscores the urgent need for international collaboration.
You must also be aware of the illegal trafficking of firearms into my country from the United States. Seventy percent of the illegal weapons seized from criminals in Mexico come from your country. We do not produce these weapons, nor do we consume synthetic drugs. Tragically, it is in our country that lives are lost to the violence resulting from meeting the drug demand in yours. President Trump, migration and drug consumption in the United States cannot be addressed through threats or tariffs. What is needed is cooperation and mutual understanding to tackle these significant challenges. For every tariff, there will be a response in kind, until we put at risk our shared enterprises. Yes, shared. For instance, among Mexico’s main exporters to the United States are General Motors, Stellantis, and Ford Motor Company, which arrived in Mexico 80 years ago. Why impose a tariff that would jeopardize them? Such a measure would be unacceptable and would lead to inflation and job losses in both the United States and Mexico. I am convinced that North America’s economic strength lies in maintaining our trade partnership. This allows us to remain competitive against other economic blocs. For this reason, I believe that dialogue is the best path to understanding, peace, and prosperity for our nations. I hope our teams can meet soon to continue building joint solutions.”
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9 comments:
If only we had an incoming president even a fraction as measured and thoughtful as the one reflected in that letter. Unfortunately, when it comes to intelligence and diplomacy, Trump is totally out of his league.
My interpretation of this letter is that neither the US nor Mexico is able to control the southern border. J
Sure, the US manufactured weapons. How are they getting into Mexico? Does Mexico not have border controls?
The southern border is only with Mexico. How are migrants being admitted into Mexico for their journey into the US? Does Mexico not have any border controls? How easy is it to get into Mexico?
Why is the Mexican border with the US more porous than our Northern border with Canada?
I want to get angry at Trump regarding all this, but why give him power over my emotions?
As everyone knows, the Donald is not a reader. I wonder if he even got past the 2nd paragraph. And, if he did, did he understand anything she wrote? I kind of doubt it. He looks at it as a win. After all, she sent him a personal letter. Nice little girl.
We don’t really know the content of the discussion they had. The public statements they each made may not reflect the entire reality of that discussion.
A few more questions worth considering:
Why is the U.S. the world’s biggest consumer of illegal fentanyl?
How is it that any idiot, including Mexican cartel members, can so easily get guns in the U.S.?
Why are so many Americans such easy marks for a con man and pathological liar as obvious as Trump?
Maybe there’s a correlation.
Re: “ Why is the Mexican border with the US more porous than our Northern border with Canada?” That’s quite an assumption. What data do you have to back that up? I live in Washington State and there are hundreds of miles where anyone can cross the border unawares, including by water on the Islands in the “Salish Sea”.
So, Mr/Miss/Mrs Anonymous, are you admitting that we do have a problem on the Northern border, or are the logistics required beyond the capability of the vartels? Or perhaps the border patrol takes advantage of the natural barriers there.
Yes, I am aware of how porous the border is. There are some crossings in Northern NY, VT, NH, and even ME. Very little reports on the PacNW and Mid US. For some reason there does not seem to be reporting on crossings from the North.
Sorry for the typos...
Of course, cartels not vartels; and very few reports, rather than little.
As I've written previously, I support legal immigration. I am opposed to illegal immigration.
I am very familiar with the immigration process and residency requirements.
Right now the current and previous administrations let things get out of hand for a variety of reasons. And our continuation of looking the other way is not acceptable.
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