Presidnet Trump has announced his plans to deploy the National Guard to the U.S.-Mexico border, to assist the border patrol in stopping illegal immigrants, and drugs trafficking. Unsurprisingly, this news was not taken well by the politicians of Mexico.
The President of Mexico, Enrique Peña Nieto tweeted on Wednesday that this announcement by the U.S. President has united all Mexicans.
“Something that brings together and unites absolutely all Mexicans is our certainty that nothing and no one stands above the dignity of Mexico.”
The Mexican President also posted a five-minute video on social media where he addressed this issue. Peña Nieto said that nearly a year ago, he had established “two fundamental principles to guide our relationship with the administration of President Donald Trump.
“First and foremost, to safeguard the national interest, our sovereignty and Mexican’s dignity. And second to maintain a constructive and open vision that allows us to overcome differences, confront common challenges and reach agreements.”
Nieto said that he understood that the relationship between U.S. and Mexico is “intense and dynamic” and that there are challenges, however, “these challenges will never justify threatening attitudes or a lack of respect between our countries.”
“President Trump, if you want to reach agreements with Mexico, we are ready. As we have demonstrated until now, we are willing to dialogue with seriousness, in good faith and with a constructive spirit,” said Nieto.
“If your recent statements are the result of frustration due to domestic policy issues, your laws or your Congress, turn to them, not to Mexicans.”
“We will not allow negative rhetoric to define our actions. We will only act in the best interests,” said the Mexican President.
Mexican President Nieto also paraphrased former U.S. President John F. Kennedy words, and used them in his speech, “We will not be afraid to negotiate but we will not negotiate with fear.”
In his speech, Peña Nieto also said that the Congress of Mexico, along with the four presidential candidates are united, and are together standing up for the dignity of Mexico.
“As [National Action Party coalition candidate] Ricardo Anaya said: this is a moment of national unity. It’s not a campaign issue. It’s a national issue,” said Nieto.
“Mexico is a large and strong nation. We’re a nation that’s proud of its history and culture, its dynamic present and its brilliant future . . . but, above all, we’re a sovereign nation with values and principles . . . We are convinced that, coming to an agreement, as friends, partners and good neighbors, both countries will be much better off than confronting each other.”
“There is something that unites . . . absolutely all Mexicans: the certainty that nothing or nobody is above the dignity of Mexico,” the Mexican President stated in closing.
Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, who is the front-runner in the Mexican Presidential race said that Trump’s plans of mobilizing the U.S. guardsmen was a political “propaganda” which is based on the misinformation that was aimed to stir up “racism” and “xenophobia”.
“This great threat on the southern border of the United States that he says is there, does not exist,” said Lopez Obrador, who is leading in most polls. On Wednesday, Obrador said that “we will not accept the use of force, the militarization of the border. Problems aren’t solved that way; peace and tranquility are derived from justice.”
“This anti-Mexican policy has worked politically because unfortunately there are conservative sectors in the United States with little information and he knows how to awaken an anti-Mexican sentiment,” said Obrador during a campaign event taking place in Nuevo Laredo.
“You cannot negotiate or cooperate with threats,” said Obrador.
Jose Antonio Meade, the presidential candidate from the Institutional Revolutionary Party, also showed his opposition for Trump’s border plan. The independent candidate, Margarita Zavala called the plan a “historic error” and a “hostile act” in an open letter which he had addressed to Trump.
The candidate of the ruling party Jose Antonio Meade stated that “independently of our political differences, it is time for all the presidential candidates to unite in defense of the sovereignty and dignity of the nation … to reject and repudiate thus kind of measure.”
“The attitude of militarization seems to us like just one more insult that we Mexicans don’t deserve,” said the representative of the state government in Ciudad Juarez, Ramon Galindo.
“Having soldiers on the other side won’t make absolutely any difference at all,” said Galindo, keeping in mind the immigration, trade and cross-border crimes.
The President of Mexico Enrique Peña Nieto said in responses to all these comments that “As president of all Mexicans, I agree with (their) remarks,” regarding Trump’s plan to station U.S. troops on the shared border. “No one stands above the dignity of Mexico.”
