In a significant move towards mending diplomatic tensions between the US and Mexico, President Joe Biden and President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador recently released a joint statement acknowledging the need for closer cooperation on issues related to the border. Biden and Obrador see a team approach as the most effective way to address the growing list of challenges, such as labor rights, crime, migration, security, and trade.
Speaking at a joint news conference at the White House, Biden and Obrador noted the importance of the US-Mexico partnership and the need to work together in order to secure a prosperous future for both countries. Specifically, the two leaders called for greater collaboration on improving human rights and labor conditions, creating better economic opportunities for people of both countries, and protecting the environment.
Biden and Obrador also pledged to strengthen the existing social safety net by creating programs that support people living near the border, provide access to healthcare, increase educational opportunities, and promote economic development. The two leaders also noted that legal avenues should be established for those seeking to enter the US for legitimate employment opportunities.
The recent pledge to work together comes as a major strategic move by the Biden administration as it tries to counter Republican efforts in 2024 to blame Democrats for border security problems. It also comes as more and more people are trying to enter the US, risking life and limb in the dangerous journey across the border.
The US and Mexico have a long history of working together, and the progress made in the just-concluded talks will go a long way towards furthering this partnership. Biden and Obrador have promised to remain in dialogue as they pursue a more harmonious US-Mexico relationship in the years to come.