Americas Quarterly

Council in January 2009 will provide a unique opportunity for the new administration to work with its Mexican partner in addressing global challenges and in establishing multilateral rapport with other Latin American democracies, especially as we gear-up for the next Summit of the Americas in Trinidad and Tobago in April. When designing a grand strategy for Latin America and the Caribbean, the U.S. has historically articulated its vision multilaterally but then usually implemented policies bilaterally. Mexico, along with other like-minded nations in the hemisphere, can work with the U.S. to holistically solve many of the common challenges we face.

All of the above should not be taken to suggest that there are no hard questions left to answer within the U.S.-Mexico bilateral relationship itself. There are areas of the relationship, such as trade, where the partnership has clearly become strategic. There are also areas where we are moving in that direction, such as counter-narcotics cooperation, with the Mérida Initiative representing a much-needed step toward our common goal of rolling back drug trafficking and organized crime on both sides of our border. But there are certainly a few issues where we still remain distant neighbors, with migration—and labor mobility in general—and anti-im-migrant policies and vitriol being probably the most salient problems. Nevertheless, an open and frank dialogue now characterizes all our exchanges, and there is increased cooperation across a vast array of topics in what has become a multidimensional relationship with a long-term vision. Abba Eban said that history teaches us that men and nations behave wisely once they

have exhausted all other alternatives. It would seem that Mexico and the U.S. are now reaching that stage.

Designing a framework that will ensure the common prosperity and the common security of our peoples remains the central conundrum we both face in a post 9/11 world. Mexico is fully aware that a threat to the security of the U.S. will profoundly affect the bilateral relationship. We must therefore make common border security a top priority of our agenda. At the same time, our security will best be served by the U.S. fully committing to the North American region and to a prosperous and safe hemisphere.

I remain highly optimistic about the ability of Mexico and the U. S. to confront the many challenges that we face. Much of my optimism is based on a strength that the U.S. exemplifies better than any other country and that we as Mexicans and all of us in Latin America share: respect for diversity, strength in plurality. Yet important as these shared values are in guiding us, a compass is of no use if you do not know where you want to go. Mexico and the U.S. need to identify a destination and set a clear course for the future.

At the end of the day, our challenge is whether Mexico and the U. S. are willing to play chess instead of checkers and are moving toward the most fundamental paradigmatic shift of our common history: building a true strategic partnership. Can we ensure that we continue being partners to success instead of capitulating as accomplices to failure? We need bold visions, statesmanship and hard questions tackled head-on on both sides of ^the ^border. ^Mexico ^is ^r.^eady ^toplay its part with the incoming _{U. S.} _{Administration.}

Celso Amorim

: It’s Time
For a
Fresh
Start.

nited states policies toward the region have oscillated between activism and aloofness. In both cases, the perception of U.S. attitudes has given rise to criticism in Latin America and the Caribbean.

If the U.S. seems too involved, chances are that many observers will accuse Washington of unduly interfering in the domestic affairs of other countries.

If the U.S.—consciously or not— turns its back on the region, there will be people complaining that the U. S. government is indifferent to the fate of its neighbors. “They don’t care” is the predictable expression of disappointment that will be heard in some quarters.