Mexico Lacks Will to Defend Its Interests Over Against the U.S.

Aristegui Noticias: The Mexican government lacks the "political will" to defend its own interests over against the U.S.government, which now seeks to tighten its measures on the border with Mexico, agreed the political analysts, Sergio Aguayo and Lorenzo Meyer on the First Edition of MVS News, moderated by Carmen Aristegui.

In response to the report of Washington correspondent, Estévez-Dolia, who said that Republicans have agreed to support Barack Obama's immigration reform in exchange for tougher border measures, the two analysts pointed out that Mexico cannot consider itself a "friend" of the U.S., as that country has shown that it is only concerned about its own interests.

Meyer said the U.S. government "can do whatever it wants with its border", but the Mexican government can't remain silent. Congress could, at least, issue a pronouncement.

The historian said that every country has the right to close its borders, but the Mexican authorities haven't responded to what its neighbor is doing. He suggested that the government of Mexico could say "don't accept any U.S. citizen who comes to live here in retirement" or close the offices of U.S. officials in our country. That would be a "reply" that sends them a message.

"If they close their border, we also have things to close, such as their offices ... in Paseo de la Reforma [main boulevard of Mexico City]," he explained.

Meyer compared the presidency of Felipe Calderón with that of Enrique Peña Nieto, saying that the first opened all the doors, while the latter has said there would only be one "window" that would be open [to U.S. agencies] in the Secretariat of Government Relations [SEGOB].

In relations between countries, Meyer considered that gestures can be important, but aren't the substance of the relationship. Even within the measures that the Mexican government could take against the U.S. for closing its border, Lorenzo Meyer suggested giving back the money received from the Merida Initiative.

Sergio Aguayo said that the government of Mexico "seems content with the disparity" with its neighbor.

"Yes, there are precedents for government action to defend Mexico's interests," he said. 

He added that even small countries like Israel and El Salvador have been able to influence the United States.

"We have a huge social base, much greater than other countries ... What is lacking is the political will. Neither the PAN nor PRI governments have been willing to lay foundations of a different type, defending our interests as a country, of the majority, not of a minority," he said.

 Spanish original