Breathe
By Raquel López-Portillo Maltos
October 1st will mark a historic event for Mexico: the inauguration of Claudia Sheinbaum as the country's first female president. Amidst the relevance of this milestone, the absence of U.S. President Joe Biden and the delegation that has been selected to represent his government at the event reveal Washington's priorities and approach towards its southern neighbor. The composition of the profiles that make up the high-level U.S. delegation appears to be a meticulously calculated decision that sends a specific message about Washington's priorities and vision for its relationship with Mexico.
It is important to note that Joe Biden's absence at Claudia Sheinbaum's inauguration is not due to health reasons or mobility limitations, as the US President has several international trips planned in October. On October 14, Biden will visit Angola, marking the first visit by a U.S. president to Africa since Barack Obama in 2013, as well as to a meeting in Berlin alongside leaders of France and the United Kingdom, where the discussion is expected to focus on support for Ukraine. This underscores that the decision not to attend Sheinbaum's inauguration responds more to a political and diplomatic choice, rather than health or agenda constraints.
In addition, the event comes at a time of growing tensions in the relationship between the two governments in recent weeks, particularly with the recent arrest of Ismael "El Mayo" Zambada in El Paso, Texas without the participation of the Mexican government, as well as the "diplomatic pause" implemented by President Lopez Obrador following criticism by the U.S. Ambassador to Mexico, Ken Salazar, of judicial reform in Mexico.
In this scenario, the choice of Jill Biden as representative of the U.S. delegation seems to seek a more conciliatory tone with the incoming Sheinbaum government, with a focus on soft diplomacy and courtesy. However, the first lady's presence, while symbolically relevant, lacks the political weight that an event of this magnitude might demand. In this sense, the absence of President Joe Biden or more strategic figures reflects the status of the bilateral relationship and sends a message about how the list of U.S. priorities in relation to Mexico has changed.
The senior members of the delegation focus on responsibilities in areas already familiar to the relationship between the two countries: Alejandro Mayorkas, Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, whose presence underscores the preeminence of the immigration and border security issue; Ken Salazar, U.S. Ambassador to Mexico, who has been a key player in the dialogue between the executives; and Liz Sherwood-Randall, Homeland Security Advisor, who reinforces the priority focus on homeland security and cooperation in the fight against organized crime.
The participation of senior Latino officials, such as Health Secretary Xavier Becerra and Small Business Administrator Isabel Casillas Guzman, as well as political representation by figures such as Congresswoman Nanette Barragan and Mayor Regina Romero, has a doubly symbolic focus: on the one hand, it underscores the importance of the Latino community in U.S. domestic politics, especially in the run-up to the 2024 elections; on the other, it reinforces the cultural and identity connection between the two countries. However, the high Latino representation in the delegation can be interpreted as a gesture more oriented to satisfy a domestic electoral base than to substantively address the complex challenges of the bilateral relationship.
One of the most striking aspects of the delegation is the absence of key figures who could have transformed the current narrow focus of the relationship between the two countries. Antony Blinken, Secretary of State, is one of the big absentees. His presence would have been a clear message that this and a potential future Democratic administration would seek to expand the relationship with Mexico beyond security and migration issues into areas of cooperation in trade, investment and multilateral diplomacy. The direct diplomacy he would have offered would have been crucial as Mexico enters a new phase in defining its role in the region.
While understandable given the current juncture, another notable absence is Vice President Kamala Harris, whose presence would have underscored not only the relevance of Mexico as an ally, but the symbolism of a relationship between two women who hold the highest positions in their respective countries. In addition, profiles such as that of Gina Raimondo, Secretary of Commerce, or Jen, Secretary of Energy, would have emphasized the importance of the economic ties between Mexico and the United States, in a context where the renegotiation of the T-MEC in 2026 will define the near future of the relationship between the two countries.
In politics, form is substance. Biden's decision not to personally attend this historic event is an act that, while not without precedent, stands as a telling decision. Meanwhile, Claudia Sheinbaum has expressed that "her priority is here," indicating that, like her predecessor, she does not plan to prioritize the international arena. Relevant events such as the upcoming G-20 summit in Brazil could be an opportunity for her government to begin to shape its approach to foreign policy. However, rebuilding the relationship of trust with its main trading partner would have to be a priority, one that is not entirely clear today.
The opinions expressed are the responsibility of the authors and are absolutely independent of the position and editorial line of the company. Opinion 51.
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