The United States turns to the negotiation of Mexico's presence at the Summit of the Americas

Andrés Manuel López Obrador during a meeting with White House envoy John Kerry and Ambassador Ken Salazar. Presidency of Mexico (AFP)

The Joe Biden Administration has focused on negotiating the full participation of Mexico in the ninth Summit of the Americas, which is being held from June 6 to 10 in Los Angeles.

After President Andrés Manuel López Obrador left his presence up in the air if the United States does not also invite the representatives of Cuba, Nicaragua and Venezuela, Washington has multiplied contacts to define a common position before the conclave.

A conversation was scheduled for this Monday between the Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, and the Secretary of Foreign Affairs, Marcelo Ebrard.

And on Wednesday, Christopher Dodd, special adviser to Biden for the organization of the summit, will visit Mexico.

“I don't know where we are going to get to the Summit of the Americas, but on behalf of the United States it is very important that Mexico participate.

That is why Chris Dodd is coming to spend a day here on Wednesday to see how we are moving forward,” the US ambassador, Ken Salazar, explained on Monday during an appearance with the governor of the State of Mexico, Alfredo del Mazo, of the opposition Partido Institutional Revolutionary (PRI).

“You may ask why we are giving Mexico so much attention.

It is because in a Summit of the Americas, Mexico is required to be there with its leadership”, the diplomat continued.

The veteran Democratic politician rushed last week - after learning of López Obrador's decision to make his participation conditional on the inclusion of all the governments of the continent - to request a meeting with the president at the National Palace.

For the White House, as front-line officials have stated on several occasions, it is crucial that North America bring to the regional meeting a shared agenda on substantive issues such as immigration policy, security or economic integration.

That is why, for example, Biden requested a telephone conference with his counterpart two weeks ago before his tour of Central America and Cuba.

And so Ebrard traveled to Washington to meet with Blinken.

The chancellor himself has reported that this Monday the development of the summit has been addressed at the meeting of the Government Security Cabinet.

Shortly after, the president clarified that, in any case, he does not jeopardize the participation of his Executive in the conclave and has assured that "there has been a very responsible attitude on the part of the Government of the United States".

"They have not come out to deny the possibility of all of us participating, even the White House spokeswoman mentioned that the invitations had not yet been sent, and it is true, there are still no invitations," he said during the morning press conference.

At the moment, according to the declarations of senior officials of the US Administration, it seems unlikely that an invitation will be extended to Cuba -as Barack Obama did in 2015- Nicaragua and Venezuela.

“There is a democratic sentiment and vision in the Americas and we are going to respect that.

And, therefore, we don't think it's convenient to include countries that disrespect democracy," the Undersecretary of State for the Western Hemisphere, Brian Nichols, advanced last week in an interview with EL PAÍS.

However, for López Obrador not all doors are closed.

“And I have confidence in President Biden, because he is a man who seeks conciliation, who seeks dialogue, and I think that is the best.

No confrontation, no discrimination, we have to unite.

And of course we have differences, but agreements can be reached respecting the differences, respecting the idiosyncrasy of each people, the sovereignty of each country, looking for what unites us”, said the Mexican president.

On Wednesday, he will present these arguments to Biden's envoy and, "if it is not achieved," he added, "let there be no sanctions or reproaches."

“Whatever happens, in any case, Mexico is going to be present, the chancellor is going to be there, our secretary of foreign relations, Marcelo Ebrard.

But I would not go because I think that we need the unity of America, and it is time for deeds, deeds not words”, López Obrador closed.

To fully understand the background of this position, it is necessary to take into account the disagreements between his government and the Organization of American States (OAS), which accompanies the organization of the Summit of the Americas through a technical secretariat.

Still, from the American perspective, the appointment must go beyond these frictions.

"The future of the world for us is not with China, it is not with Russia, it is here," Ambassador Salazar stressed before elaborating on the relationship between the two leaders, with a similar way, he said, of seeing the world.

“President Biden has already spoken with President López Obrador and they have a lot of respect for each other.

It is a very strong union and there is respect among the leaders.

So, I hope we get to a good place, but we are talking about several things”, he concluded.

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