Mexican Leader Calls Trump 'Friend', Opposes Border Closure

Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador referred to Donald Trump as "a friend" on Friday. He plans to write to the former US president, warning him against closing the border or blaming migrants for drug trafficking.

Despite Trump's repeated calls to close the border, Lopez Obrador described him as "a man of intelligence and vision." Trump, who served as president from 2017 to 2021, is again the Republican nominee for this year's presidential election.

Economic Interdependence

Lopez Obrador highlighted the deep economic ties between the two countries. He stated that a border closure would be unsustainable for even a month due to the intertwined economies. "They wouldn't last a month with the border closed," he said, referring to US automakers and manufacturers reliant on cross-border trade.

In 2019, Mexico was taken aback when Trump threatened a prolonged border closure unless Mexican authorities curbed migrant crossings. Lopez Obrador plans to argue in his letter that migrants do not bring drugs into the United States and that closing the border would not solve any issues.

Impact on Auto Industry

Addressing concerns about US auto companies moving production to lower-wage plants in Mexico, Lopez Obrador claimed that reversing this trend would significantly increase car prices for US consumers. He estimated that each automobile sold would cost between USD 15,000 and USD 20,000 more if production returned to the United States.

The Mexican president also noted that despite frequent tensions and Trump's aggressive rhetoric, their relationship remained outwardly amicable between 2018 and 2020. During this period, Lopez Obrador agreed to use Mexico's National Guard to make it harder for third-country migrants to reach the US border.

Lopez Obrador continues this practice under the current US administration. He emphasised that closing the border is impractical and would harm both nations' economies.

Mexicans were offended in 2015 when Trump, then a candidate, claimed that many immigrants arriving illegally in the US were "criminals, drug dealers, rapists." This statement caused significant outrage in Mexico.

Lopez Obrador's planned letter aims to dissuade Trump from making similar claims or taking drastic actions like closing the border. He believes such measures are not only ineffective but also impossible to implement.

The Mexican president's comments reflect his ongoing efforts to maintain a cooperative relationship with the United States while addressing contentious issues like migration and trade.