Ahead of Kamala Harris Meeting, Mexico’s President Accuses U.S. of Violating Country’s Sovereignty
WASHINGTON, DC - MAY 07: U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris (2nd R) conducts a bilateral meeting with Mexico President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador via video link from her Ceremonial Office in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building on May 07, 2021 in Washington, DC. Harris is heading the White House's efforts to partner with Mexico and other Northern Triangle countries to work on the current migration crisis. Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

Mexico's President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador publicly accused the United States government of violating his country's sovereignty just before an online meeting with Vice President Kamala Harris.

But ahead of the talks, Lopez Obrador clarified that his comment was not on the agenda and it was not his intention to create a bad atmosphere. The issue indeed did not arise during the Mexican President's meeting with Kamala Harris on Friday.

The meeting, which was a portion was publicized, focused on immigration, which is a key issue in the U.S.-Mexico relationship. Also, trade, border security, and the pandemic were tackled by the two officials during the meeting.

According to the Associated Press, the Mexican President emphasized during his meeting with Kamala Harris that they will help on immigration issues. Lopez Obrador also assured Kamala Harris that they could count on the Mexican government in resolving the crisis.

However, with Mexico facing critical congressional and state elections on June 6, Lopez Obrador dedicated a part of his news conference earlier in the day to express his outrage over a funding decision by the U.S. Agency for International Development, ABC News reported.

The Mexican president stated that it is an interventionist act that violated their sovereignty. He added that Mexico has already filed a diplomatic note with the U.S. Embassy.

Beyond U.S.-Mexico Border

But after less than two hours, it was all smiles and compliments for both country leaders when they met. The meeting came ahead of the planned actual visit of Kamala Harris in the country on June 8.

Lopez Obrador has commended President Joe Biden for his confidence with Kamala Harris as he gave the responsibility of finding ways to address the root causes of migration to the vice president.

The Mexican President also said he planned to pitch again the proposal that he floated at Biden's climate summit last month. Lopez Obrador wanted the U.S. to fund a major expansion of one of his signature programs called "Planting Life."

This program of Lopez Obrador provides cash payments to farmers who plant certain lumber and fruit-bearing trees. The target of the Mexican government is to help keep Mexicans in their rural communities.

Aside from the U.S., Mexico has also offered help in Central America. But the more challenging part of the Mexico president's pitch is that the U.S. grants six-month work visas and eventually citizenship to those who will join the program.

Just like the Trump and Obama administrations, the Biden administration has been overwhelmed by the surge in the number of migrant children and families who arrived at the southern border.

Most of the migrants come from Central America, but the number of migrants in Mexico has risen as well, Times of India reported.

Kamala Harris shared on Friday that they have agreed to work together in establishing a strategic partnership to address the root causes of migration, spur economic development, and the expansion of security cooperation.

A spokesperson for the U.S. State Department said on Friday that the Vice President mentioned that Mexico "is our closest neighbor" and that the two countries share not only a border but the values of dignity and respect.

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