Ever since Donald Trump took office, Mexico’s President Claudia Sheinbaum has tried to strike a careful balance: Working with Washington on security matters while maintaining sovereignty and domestic support. She sent 10,000 troops to the northern border, largely abandoned her predecessor’s “hugs not bullets” strategy, and held one of the highest approval ratings in the region. But lately, that balance has become more challenging. In late April, the U.S. Justice Department indicted a sitting Morena governor on drug trafficking charges and media reports have pointed to a CIA presence in Mexican territory. This comes just as Sheinbaum’s government prepares for one of its toughest negotiations yet: The USMCA review, expected to begin in July. Today on the podcast: an overview of US-Mexico ties and what they mean for security, economic activity, and trade in both countries. Our guest is Brenda Estefan, professor of geopolitics at IPADE Business School in Mexico City and columnist at Reforma.
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Guest:
Brenda Estefan is a professor at IPADE Business School in Mexico City and a columnist at Reforma, Mexico’s leading newspaper.
Host:
Miranda Mazariegos is editor and podcast producer at Americas Quarterly
If you would like to know more:
Claudia Sheinbaum’s Conundrum by Luis Rubio
“El Mencho”’s Death Will Test Mexico’s Meager State by Jacques Coste
Washington’s Sharpening Stance on Mexico by Brenda Estefan
The Implications of Mexico’s Stubborn U.S. Trade Surplus by Alfredo Coutino
AQ Podcast | Claudia Sheinbaum’s First Year
After a year of balancing Trump, AMLO, and public expectations, Mexico’s Claudia Sheinbaum is quite popular, but uncertainties lie ahead.
