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LATIN AMERICA ADVISOR

LATIN AMERICA ADVISOR

A daily publication Of the dialogue

April 17, 2026

What Does a New Top Diplomat Mean for Mexico?

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum last month tapped Roberto Velasco, former subsecretary for North America at Mexico’s foreign ministry, as the country’s new foreign relations secretary. // File Photo: Mexican Government.

Q

  • Mexico’s Senate on April 8 approved Roberto Velasco, the foreign ministry’s subsecretary for North America, as the country’s new foreign relations secretary. Velasco, a 38-year-old lawyer who has been involved in Mexico’s relations with the United States and Canada for six years, assumes office at a critical moment for Mexico’s ties with the United States. What does Velasco’s appointment as Mexico’s top diplomat represent about the direction of the country’s foreign policy under President Claudia Sheinbaum? How will Velasco’s appointment affect ongoing negotiations surrounding the USMCA trade agreement, whose formal review period begins on July 1? How might Mexico’s relationships with Cuba and China change under Velasco?

A

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ABOUT THE LATIN AMERICA ADVISOR

The Inter-American Dialogue publishes the Latin America Advisor every business day for a distinguished membership of informed corporate leaders, scholars, and government officials invested in Latin America’s development and future. The Advisor‘s highly regarded Q&A section covers questions submitted by subscribers themselves. Commentators regularly include heads of state, business leaders, diplomats, economists, analysts, and thought leaders from around the world. Many of the world’s largest and fastest-growing companies subscribe to the Advisor. To subscribe, click here. For terms and conditions, click here. For more information, contact Gene Kuleta, editor of the Advisor, at gkuleta@thedialogue.org.
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Gene Kuleta
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board of advisors

Diego Arria
Director,
Columbus Group

Merike Blofield
Professor of Political Science,
University of Hamburg

Devry Boughner Vorwerk
CEO,
DevryBV Sustainable Strategies

Joyce Chang
Global Head of Research,
J.P. Morgan

Marlene Fernández
Corporate Vice President for Gov’t Relations,
Arcos Dorados (McDonald’s)

Peter Hakim
President Emeritus,
Inter-American Dialogue

Donna Hrinak
Director,
Adtalem Global Education

Jon E. Huenemann
Council Member,
GLG Inc.

James R. Jones
Chairman,
Monarch Global Strategies

Craig Kelly
Senior Director,
Int’l Gov’t Relations,
Exxon Mobil

Barbara Kotschwar
Professor of Political Economy,
Georgetown University

John Maisto
Director,
US Education Finance Group

Nicolas Mariscal
Chairman,
Grupo Marhnos

Thomas F. McLarty III
Chairman,
McLarty Associates

Beatrice Rangel
Director,
AMLA Consulting

Ernesto Revilla
Head of Latin American Economics, Citi

Gustavo Roosen
President,
IESA

Andrés Rozental
President, Rozental &
Asociados

Shelly Shetty
Managing Director,
Sovereigns, Fitch

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