AMLO supported Cuba, criticized the United States and proposed to create “something similar” to the EU in Latin America

This Saturday, President Andrés Manuel López Obrador, He assured that Mexico should cease to be regarded as “a protectorate, a colony or the backyard” of the United States., while supported the Cuban people which has defended its sovereignty for 62 years by politically facing the United States “Although my words provoke anger in some or more”, He said.

Headlining the event to commemorate the 238th anniversary of the birth of Simón Bolívar “The liberator of America”, whose ceremony which took place in the Alcazar of Chapultepec Castle, he was named “Solemn Citizen of Mexico”, López Obrador pointed out that the influence of US foreign policy is predominant in America, for which he highlighted the case of Cuba “a country which for more than half a century has asserted its independence, politically confronted with the United States”, he declared.

“We may or may not agree with the Cuban Revolution and its government, but to have stood 62 years without submission is quite an achievement. My words may anger some or more, but as the song Calle 13 says, “I always say what I think”. Therefore, I think that for their fight for the defense of the sovereignty of their country, the Cuban people deserve the price of dignity and that this island should be considered as the new numancia for its example of resistance and I think that it is is for this very reason that it should be declared a World Heritage Site “, he assured.

“But I also maintain that it is time for a new coexistence between all the countries of America because the model imposed more than two centuries ago is exhausted, it has no future or a way out, it does not no longer benefits anyone. We must put aside the dilemma of joining the United States or opposing defensively. It is time to express and explore another option: to engage with the American leadership and convince and persuade them that ‘a new relationship between the countries of America is possible “, He said.

In the event that also marked the start of the summit of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (Celac), the Mexican president stressed that there are currently unbeatable conditions to achieve economic integration with respect of the sovereignty of nations.

“I believe that currently there are unbeatable conditions to achieve this goal of respecting each other and walking together without anyone being left behind. In this endeavor, our experience of economic integration with regard to our sovereignty that we have put into practice in the design and application of the Economic and Trade Treaty with the United States and Canada can help. It is obviously not an easy task to have a nation like the United States as a neighbor, our proximity forces us to seek agreements and it would be a serious mistake to put ourselves with “Samson kicking”, but in at the same time, we have powerful reasons to assert our sovereignty and to demonstrate with arguments, without bravado that we are not a protectorate, a colony or its backyard “, he stressed.

López Obrador stressed that China’s “disproportionate” economic growth forces Mexico and the United States to see each other as allies and not “distant neighbors”.

“In addition, with time, little by little a favorable circumstance for our country was accepted. China’s excessive growth has reinforced the view in the United States that we should be seen as allies, not distant neighbors. The integration process has been taking place since 1994, when the first treaty was signed, still incomplete because it did not address the labor issue as it does today, it allowed the installation of auto parts factories in the sector. automobile and other productive branches and chains have been created which make us mutually indispensable. It could even be said that the US military industry depends on auto parts made in Mexico. I do not say this with pride, but to underline the existing interdependence “, he stressed.

“But speaking of this matter, as I mentioned to President (Joseph) Biden, we prefer economic integration with sovereign integration with the United States and Canada, in order to recover what was lost in production and trade with China, rather than following us weakening as a region and having a war-torn scenario in the Pacific. To put it in other words: we want the United States are strong economically and not only militarily; achieving this balance and not the hegemony of a country is the most responsible and convenient way to maintain the peace for the good of future generations and of humanity “, he stressed.

The Mexican chief executive stressed that China will continue to grow disproportionately, which would create a temptation to resolve this disparity through the use of force.

“First of all, we have to be realistic and accept, as I said in the White House speech in July of last year, that if China dominates 12.2% of the world market for exports and services, the United States does it only in 9.5% and this level. comes from only 30 years ago, since in 1990 China’s share was 1.3% and that of the United States was 12.4%. Imagine that this trend of the last three decades continues, and nothing can legally or legitimately prevent it, in 30 years, by 2051, China would hold 64.8% of the world market and the United States between 4 and 10%, which I insist, in addition to an unacceptable proportion in the economic field, would keep alive the temptation to bet on the resolution of this disparity with the use of force, which would put us all in danger “, he stressed.

López Obrador said American countries must form a community to move forward in the economy.

“One could assume in a simplistic way that it is up to each nation to assume its responsibility, but in the case of such a delicate and endearing case, with respect for the rights of others and the independence of each country, we think it would be best to strengthen ourselves economically and commercially in North America and across the continent. Moreover, I see no other way out, we cannot shut down our economies and bet on the application of tariffs to the exporting countries of the world, much less should we declare a trade war on anyone “, He said.

He stressed that migrants must stop being rejected, mostly young, when in order to grow they need a workforce that in reality is not sufficiently available in the United States or Canada.

“Why not study the demand for labor and open the migratory flows in an orderly fashion and within the framework of this new joint development plan, the investment policy, labor, environmental protection and ‘other matters of mutual interest should be considered of interest to our nations “, he stressed.

This is why the Mexican president proposed the creation of a community in Latin America similar to the European Union.

“The proposal is neither more nor less than to build something similar to the European Union, but attached to our history, our reality and our identities”, the president told representatives of 33 countries in the region.

The President of Mexico took the opportunity to ask for the replacement of the Organization of American States (OAS) and to propose a new model of integration for the region.

“In this spirit, the replacement of the OAS by a truly autonomous body, not a lackey person, but a mediator, at the request and acceptance of the parties in conflict, should not be excluded”, he stated.

He admitted “that this is a complex issue which requires a new political and economic vision”, but said that “it is a big task for good diplomats and politicians, like those who fortunately exist in all the countries of the continent ”.

“What is proposed here may seem like a utopia, however, we must consider that without the horizon of ideals, we cannot go anywhere, let’s keep Bolívar’s dream alive”, he concluded.

Despite his criticisms of US foreign policy, the Mexican president called on Latin American countries “to put aside the dilemma of joining the United States or opposing it on the defensive.”

“Let us begin a relationship on our continent under the premise of George Washington, that nations should not profit from the misfortune of other peoples”, he stated.

The event was opened by the head of government of Mexico City, Claudia Sheinbaum, who read a passage from Simón Bolívar’s presence in Mexico.

For his part, the Minister of Foreign Affairs thanked “especially” the presence of some special guests who went to Mexico to attend the event, such as the Chilean writer Isabel Allende, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Argentina. , Felipe Carlos Solá, the Cuban Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bruno Rodriguez, among many other representatives from Latin America and the Caribbean.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs called on the countries of Latin America and the Caribbean to redouble their efforts to deal with the Covid-19 pandemic. This, he said, because “no one is going to ask” if the region already has vaccines against Covid-19.

“Somehow we all cooperated and the big lesson is that if we don’t act together and speak with one voice, no one will take care of us, no one will wonder if Latin America and the Caribbean will already have vaccines, Latin America will have enough resources to move forward, it has the equipment, no, only us, it’s an obligation, it’s not only a desire, it is a political resolution “, he claimed.

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