Mexico–Venezuela relations

Mexico–Venezuela relations are foreign relations between Mexico and Venezuela. Both nations are members of the Association of Caribbean States, Community of Latin American and Caribbean States, Latin American Integration Association, Organization of American States, Organization of Ibero-American States and the United Nations.

Mexico-Venezuela relations

Mexico
Venezuela

History
Plaque commemorating Simón Bolívar's stay in Mexico City in 1799

Relations from Spanish colonization to the 1990s

Both Mexico and Venezuela share a common history in the fact that both nations were once part of the Spanish Empire. During the Spanish colonial period, Mexico was then known as Viceroyalty of New Spain and the capital being Mexico City while Venezuela was governed from the Viceroyalty of New Granada in Bogotá. In 1810, both Mexico and Venezuela declared their independence from Spain with each nation obtaining independence in 1821 and 1830, respectively. Soon after obtaining independence, Emperor Agustín de Iturbide of Mexico contacted President Simón Bolívar by informing him of his ascension to the Mexican throne and telling him of his personal admiration for Bolívar after learning about his heroic valor and successful military campaigns.[1]

In 1842, both nations accredited ambassadors to each other's countries. Mexico's ambassador to Venezuela was stationed in Bogotá, Colombia while Venezuela's ambassador to Mexico was stationed in Washington, D.C., United States. In 1916, Mexico sent its first resident ambassador to be based in Caracas; however, diplomatic relations became tense in 1922 since Venezuela had not at that point established a resident ambassador to Mexico. In 1922, Mexico, under protest, closed its embassy in Caracas. In September 1923, Mexico broke diplomatic relations with Venezuela after the country had denied entry of Mexican nationals arriving to the country to partake in cultural activities being held in Venezuela. Diplomatic relations would be re-established ten years later in June 1933.[2]

During the 1940s, diplomatic relations normalized between the two nations and resident ambassadors were appointed to each nations capitals, respectively. In 1946, President Rómulo Betancourt was the first Venezuelan head-of-state to pay an official visit to Mexico. In January 1960, President Adolfo López Mateos was the first Mexican head-of-state to visit Venezuela while on a trip to South America. Since the initial visits, there have been several high level visits between the two nations.[2]

Relations from the 1990s to 2010

In 1995, Mexico and Venezuela, along with Colombia; signed a free trade agreement; however, Venezuela pulled out of the agreement in 2006. Recent involvement in the oil industry by both countries, as well as Mexico joining the North American Free Trade Association in 1994, has led to various disputes between the two nations. During Mexican President Vicente Fox's term from 2000-2006; ties between the two countries became critically strained. In November 2005, the cooperation and involvement between President Fox and the United States on the stalled Free Trade Area of the Americas proposal at the Fourth Summit of the Americas brought relations to a low between Mexico and Venezuela.[3]

The late Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, stated in a speech on 10 November 2005 to supporters in Caracas that he was saddened that "the President of a people like the Mexicans lets himself become the puppy dog of the empire", as well as appearing on his weekly talk show Aló Presidente three days later, where he stated that the Mexican President was "bleeding from his wounds" and warned President Fox to not "mess" with him, lest Fox "get stung".[3][4] Mexico's demand of an apology was unanswered by the Venezuelan government, and both countries pulled their respective ambassadors within two days of the talk show statement, starting the 2005 Mexico and Venezuela diplomatic crisis.[5][6]

Relations from 2010–Present

In July 2006, President Chavez accused newly elected President Felipe Calderón of stealing the Presidency from Andrés Manuel López Obrador in a closely contested election.[7] In August 2007, after two years of diplomatic absence in either country, normal relations were re-established with the appointment of former foreign minister Roy Chaderton as Venezuela's envoy to Mexico City and the transfer of Jesús Mario Chacón Carrillo, formerly Mexican ambassador to Colombia, to Caracas.[8] Relations between both nations did not improve much under the leadership of President Calderón. In 2011, President Calderón paid a visit to Venezuela to attend the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States summit being held in Caracas.[7]

Relations between Mexico and Venezuela under Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto remained much the same. In 2013, President Peña Nieto attended the Funeral of President Hugo Chávez. After the election of President Nicolás Maduro in April 2013, the Mexican government further emphasized the close ties between the two countries and the willingness to overcome differences in terms of political structures and relations with the United States.[9] In January 2015, President Maduro accused former President Felipe Calderón of plotting with the Venezuelan opposition to kill him and to topple his government. President Maduro also accused former President Calderón of having ties with drug cartels.[10]

In June 2017, during the OAS summit in Cancún; the governments of Mexico, Peru and the United States pushed for a resolution that defends representative democracy in Venezuela. After the summit, Venezuelan Foreign Minister Delcy Rodríguez accused Mexico and other Latin American nations of being "sympathetic dogs to the empire."[7] A resolution to condemn Venezuela was defeated during the summit.[11] In July 2017 during the G-20 summit in Hamburg, Mexico joined the leaders of Argentina, Brazil and Spain and called for the "liberation of all political prisoners and the organization of free and democratic elections" in Venezuela.[12] The statement was made after the liberation from prison of politician Leopoldo López. That same month, the Mexican Secretariat of Foreign Affairs announced that following the announcement of the United States, Mexico will also impose sanctions on "various officials and former officials of the Venezuelan government for undermining democracy and human rights in that country, as well as for participation in acts of violence, repression and corruption."[13]

In July 2018, Andrés Manuel López Obrador was elected President of Mexico. In December 2018, President Maduro arrived to Mexico to attend President López Obrador's inauguration.[14] In January 2019, the United States and several Latin American and European nations recognized opposition leader Juan Guaidó who declared himself President of Venezuela.[15] On 23 January 2019, President López Obrador reiterated Mexico's traditional stance of non-intervention in other country's affairs and refused to recognize Juan Guaidó as President.[16]

High-level visits
Venezuelan President Luis Herrera Campins attending the North–South Summit in Cancún, 1981.

Presidential visits from Mexico to Venezuela[2][17][18][19][20][21][22]

Presidential visits from Venezuela to Mexico[23][24][25][26][27][28]

Bilateral agreements

Both nations have signed several bilateral agreement such as an Agreement on Technical Cooperation (1981); Agreement of Cinematography (1983); Agreement on Air Transportation (1988); Agreement on Tourism Cooperation (1988); Agreement for the Prevention, Control, Supervision and Repression of Illicit Consumption and Trafficking in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (1990); Agreement on Educational and Cultural Cooperation (1997); Agreement on Criminal Judgments Cooperation (1998); Treaty on Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters (1998); Extradition Treaty (2005) and an Agreement of Cooperation in Science, Technology, Space Innovation and for the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (2005).[29]

Transportation

There are direct flights from Caracas to Cancún and Toluca with Conviasa airlines.

Drug trafficking

Venezuela has been a path to the United States for illegal drugs originating in Colombia, through Central America and Mexico and Caribbean countries. There have been several instances of Mexican registered planes carrying cocaine being shot down by the Venezuelan government.[30][31] In April 2015, a wrecked plane was carrying nearly a ton of cocaine and was registered with the official fleet of Mexico's Attorney General's Office.[32][33]

Trade
Embassy of Venezuela in Mexico City

In 2018, two-way trade between both nations totaled US$1 billion.[34] Mexico's main exports to Venezuela include: maize, medicine, baby food, shampoo, diapers and machinery. Venezuela's main exports to Mexico include: oil, gas, aluminum and sesame seeds.[35] In 2015, Mexico's foreign direct investment in Venezuela totaled US$1.4 billion. Venezuela is the 11th largest destination of Mexican investments in Latin America and the 7th recipient of Mexican capital in South America. Mexican multinational companies such as FEMSA, Grupo Bimbo, Mabe and Mexichem operate in Venezuela.[35]

Resident diplomatic missions
gollark: Some of them are apparently against specific "oligarch" people, but it's not like people don't use banks and currency?
gollark: I mean, sanctions have slightly imploded the currency, and stopped many banks being able to transact (presumably).
gollark: They aren't that selective, though.
gollark: I guess sanctions have an air of vagueness while this doesn't.
gollark: Huh. Weirdly, I intuitively find that bad and sanctions good?

See also

References
  1. Iturbide y Bolívar: documentos-memorias (in Spanish)
  2. History of diplomatic relations between Mexico and Venezuela (in Spanish)
  3. "Chavez blasts Mexico over summit". BBC. Retrieved January 12, 2013.
  4. "Mexico demands Venezuela apology". BBC. Retrieved January 12, 2013.
  5. "Chavez renews trade pact attack". BBC. Retrieved January 12, 2013.
  6. McKinley, James. "Mexico and Venezuela break off relations". New York Times. Retrieved 7 January 2013.
  7. México y Venezuela: 12 años de una relación cada vez más complicada (in Spanish)
  8. Aviles, Karina. "Jesús Mario Chacón, propuesto por México para embajador en Venezuela". La Jornada. Retrieved 7 January 2013.
  9. Mexico congratulates Maduro on win. Radio, The voice of Russia (TASS), April 16, 2013.
  10. http://www.telesurtv.net/english/news/Maduro-Says-Mexican-Ex-President-Has-Ties-with-Drug-Cartels--20150124-0010.html
  11. Ministers at OAS meeting fail to agree on Venezuela resolution
  12. Rajoy, Macri, Peña Nieto y Temer piden liberación de "presos políticos" en Venezuela (in Spanish)
  13. Comunicado conjunto SHCP-SRE sobre Venezuela (in Spanish)
  14. Nicolás Maduro llega a México para asistir a la comida con AMLO (in Spanish)
  15. Venezuelan Opposition Leader Guaidó Declares Himself President, With U.S. Backing
  16. Por qué México sigue reconociendo como presidente de Venezuela a Nicolás Maduro (in Spanish)
  17. "Viaje del presidente De la Madrid por América Latina (in Spanish)". Archived from the original on 2014-08-13. Retrieved 2015-04-09.
  18. Presidente Carlos Salinas de Gortari, realizo una visita a Venezuela (in Spanish)
  19. "Giras y Visitas Internacionales del C. Presidente de la República (in Spanish)". Archived from the original on 2015-04-02. Retrieved 2015-04-09.
  20. Viajes realizados al extranjero por el C. Felipe Calderón (in Spanish)
  21. Viajes realizados al extranjero por el ciudadano Vicente Fox Quesada (in Spanish)
  22. Sin interés político la visita a Venezuela, fue por solidaridad: Peña (in Spanish) Archived 2015-04-15 at the Wayback Machine
  23. President Carlos Pérez visits Mexico (in Spanish)
  24. "Visitas de mandatarios sudamericanos a México (in Spanish)". Archived from the original on 2014-08-13. Retrieved 2015-04-09.
  25. President of Venezuela visits Mexico; 1985 (in Spanish)
  26. "Visita del Presidente de la República de Venezuela Rafael Caldera a México (in Spanish)". Archived from the original on 2017-01-31. Retrieved 2015-04-09.
  27. "President Hugo Chavez attends the Monterrey Consensus Conference in Monterrey, Mexico; 2002 (in Spanish)". Archived from the original on 2015-09-23. Retrieved 2015-05-29.
  28. México-Chávez, una relación de altibajos comerciales y diplomáticos (in Spanish)
  29. Relaciones Bilaterales México-Venezuela: Convenios Bilaterales (in Spanish)
  30. https://www.latimes.com/world/worldnow/la-fg-wn-downed-plane-in-venezuela-draws-questions-from-mexico-20131107-story.html
  31. http://www.ibtimes.com/venezuela-plane-takedowns-highlight-latin-americas-aerial-drug-war-1751721
  32. http://venezuelanalysis.com/news/11318
  33. http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-04-09/cocaine-and-former-mexican-officials-id-found-at-crash-site/6381962
  34. "Mexican Ministry of the Economy: Venezuela (in Spanish)". Archived from the original on 2016-04-25. Retrieved 2018-03-15.
  35. Relaciones Bilaterales México-Venezuela (in Spanish)
  36. Embassy of Mexico in Caracas (in Spanish)
  37. Embassy of Venezuela in Mexico City (in Spanish)
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