AP Interviews Carin Zissis on How Mexico's President Sheinbaum Navigates U.S. Relations
AP Interviews Carin Zissis on How Mexico's President Sheinbaum Navigates U.S. Relations
In wake of Rubio visit, the president must strike a "delicate balance" as "so much is at stake for Mexico," said COA's Washington Office interim director
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum's strategy of managing a tumultuous relationship with President Donald Trump may be running up against wider regional tensions and lack of willingness by the Trump administration to make concessions, experts say.
Since Trump took office, the freshly elected Mexican president has been lauded, and even dubbed a sort of “Trump whisperer,” for being able to offset the brunt of U.S. tariffs that have dealt a blow to other foreign economies. Sheinbaum has done so by cracking down on cartels with a heavier hand than her predecessor, delivering dozens of cartel affiliates to American authorities and pointing to lower fentanyl seizures at the U.S. border. [...]
“I think the idea behind having an agreement is creating and building parameters,” said Carin Zissis, Washington interim director of the Council of the Americas. “You can see why Claudia Sheinbaum would be emphasizing sovereignty when on the way to visiting Mexico, Secretary Rubio was highlighting a U.S. military attack on an alleged vessel in the Caribbean.” [...]
“It’s a very delicate balance, because at the same time that she’s handled this relationship so well, so much is at stake for Mexico,” Zissis said.
