WASHINGTON. Elections in the United States and Mexico dominate the political landscape of the two countries and have an echo, but the bilateral relationship is "too important," and both governments know it, said Earl Anthony Wayne, former US ambassador to Mexico.
"It's election season – Wayne recalled – and there will always be those in both countries who try to take advantage of the moment."
And in that sense, he noted during a conversation with El Heraldo de Mexico.
"Suggestions are always there and always will be," but what matters is the political will of both governments to handle all complications. "They have an interest in maintaining fluidity in this relationship," he commented.
The former ambassador, now co-chair of the Advisory Council of the Mexico Program at the Wilson Center in Washington, emphasized that both governments have an interest in keeping the relationship flowing, but also that "opponents will take advantage of the electoral moment," he warned.
In this regard, he highlighted that issues such as: migration, fentanyl, border security, and the relationship with China are part of the debate, and although both governments handle them carefully, they are part of the public debate and concerns in the relationship.
The former ambassador also pointed out that in addition to cooperation on these issues, discussions about trade disputes are added, and there will always be interests in the debate. But he also recalled that "it is always possible to do things better."
Wayne considered that on both sides there are politicians like the current president of Mexico, Andrés Manuel López Obrador, and former US President Donald Trump, who often make very frank and sometimes excessively strong statements, but he played down their importance by insisting that on both sides there is an awareness of the importance of the relationship.
"The teams know it," he pointed out, specifying that this conviction is reflected in the contacts and the way government officials officially refer to the links.
Furthermore, he considered it likely that the new governments elected in both countries will seek to understand each other, since their links are "too important for either side to endanger the commitments reached."