U.S.-Mexico Relations: High Tensions, Uncertain Future

Drug trafficking and migration continue to be key issues in U.S.-Latin America relations. Against this backdrop, Mexico’s relationship with its northern neighbor has reached a critical turning point. At the VIII Meeting of the International Association of Inter-American Studies (IAS) at UNAM, experts discussed Mexico’s evolving relationship with the U.S.

José Miguel Insulza, former Secretary General of the Organization of American States (OAS) and current Chilean Senator, provided an in-depth analysis of the evolution of hemispheric relations. He noted that since Trump’s administration, U.S. foreign policy has fluctuated between cooperation and confrontation.

“The U.S. government issues broad demands while offering little in return,” Insulza remarked, highlighting tensions over immigration policies, the Free Trade Agreement, and recent moves to designate Mexican cartels as terrorist organizations. Meanwhile, U.S.-Mexico relations are shifting as China’s regional influence grows.

Silvia Núñez García, a UNAM scholar and former CISAN Director, stressed that U.S.-Mexico relations are at a crossroads, shaped by ongoing immigration challenges and trade negotiations. Washington’s continued pressure on these issues underscores the complex and urgent decisions both nations must navigate.