Foreign Policy Blogs

What is Barack Obama's Position on Mexico?

Barack Obama's official position‚ at least according to his campaign website‚ is limited to promoting further economic development in Mexico to decrease illegal immigration. This is a reductionist position on one of the most important financial and political relationships in the world. Nevertheless, this does not mean that Obama does not have a more detailed platform in regard to US-Mexico relations. It is just that this platform is not on Obama's website. This is unfortunate, as the website is the most obvious place to find about Obama's position in regard to Mexico.

In February 2008, Obama proposed to "repair the relationship with Mexico". This renovation is divided in three main issues: immigration, drug trafficking, and NAFTA. Obama's proposals in these areas are more politically correct than innovative, but at least there is an acknowledgement that US-Mexico relations need to be renovated in order to solve common problems. John McCain's proposal is limited to "building alliances in Mexico" in order to secure the border and solve the immigration problem in the US.

Obama's campaign is far from being over. Hopefully, by the time his campaign has come to an end, he will have a clear, detailed, innovative, and realistic policy towards Mexico. If he wins the Presidency, such a platform will be a good starting point in the renovation of relations between the US and Mexico.