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Mexico–United Kingdom relations

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Mexico-United Kingdom relations
Map indicating locations of Mexico and United Kingdom

Mexico
United Kingdom

Mexico–United Kingdom relations refers to the diplomatic relations between Mexico and the United Kingdom. Both nations today are mutual members of the G-20 major economies, Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development and the United Nations.

History

Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher attending the North–South Summit in Cancun; 1981
Former British Prime Minister Gordon Brown and former Mexican President Felipe Calderón in Davos, 2009

During the colonization of Mexico by Spain between 1519-1821; any form of relations between Mexico and the United Kingdom would have been conducted via-Madrid. After Mexico declared its independence in 1810, the UK was the first European great power to recognize Mexican sovereignty. Soon afterwards, Emperor Agustín de Iturbide sent a diplomatic envoy to London to establish diplomatic communications between the two nations. In 1837, both nations signed a treaty to abolish the slave trade.[1]

In November 1838, Mexico was involved in a brief war with France known as the Pastry War. The UK supported Mexico in its brief war with France and intervened to find a diplomatic solution to end the war. In March 1839, Mexico and France ended their war when Mexico acquiesced to French demands.[2]

In 1861, Mexican President Benito Juarez suspended Mexico's interest payments to its creditors in France, Spain and the UK. This act angered the three nations and in October 1861 the Convention of London was signed by the three nations to send joint navy ships to Mexico as a show of force to demand repayment by the Mexican government. [citation needed] In December 1861 the triple-alliance took the port of Veracruz and nearby towns. After a few months, both the Spanish and British government became evidently aware that Emperor Napoleon III of France was planning to colonize Mexico in order to expand its empire and take advantage of the fact that the United States was involved in its civil war and was not able to implement the Monroe Doctrine. In early 1862, the UK and Spain pulled its forces from Mexico. This intervention would later be known as the Second French intervention in Mexico. In 1864, France installed a puppet emperor in Mexico thus creating the Second Mexican Empire which lasted until 1867 with the execution of Emperor Maximilian I. [citation needed]

During World War I (1914-1918), Mexico became neutral while involved in its own civil war (1910-1920). In March 1938, the government of President Lázaro Cárdenas expropriated all oil reserves, facilities, and foreign oil companies in Mexico. The British government demanded immediate compensation from the expropriation which the Mexican government refused to pay. As a result, diplomatic relations between the two nations were immediately severed. Soon afterwards, the American and British governments led an international condemnation of the Mexican government and asked the international community to boycott purchasing Mexican products in order to destabilize and crush the Mexican economy.[3]

In May 1942, Mexico declared war on the axis powers during World War II thus officially entering on the side of the allies. As a result of this, diplomatic relations between Mexico and the UK were re-established. Mexico was one of only two Latin-American countries to send soldiers abroad to fight in World War II (the second country being Brazil). In 1944, both nations elevated their diplomatic representations to the level of embassies and Sir Charles Bateman became the first British ambassador in Mexico and Alfonso Rosenzweig Diaz became the first Mexican ambassador to the United Kingdom. After the war, bilateral relations between the two nations normalized and trade re-commenced.[4]

In 1966, the first direct flights between Mexico City and London were inaugurated.

During the Falklands War (April - June 1982), Mexico remained neutral during the conflict, however, it was well known that the Mexican government did not support the military junta in Argentina at the time and secretly supported the UK.[5]

State visits

Prince Charles and Duchess Camila with President Peña Nieto and First Lady Angelica Rivera at the Palacio Nacional in 2014.

Presidential visits from Mexico to the United Kingdom[1][6][7]

Royal and Prime Ministerial visits from the United Kingdom to Mexico[8][9]

Trade

In 1997, Mexico signed a Free Trade Agreement with the European Union, of which the United Kingdom is a member of. Since the implementation of the free trade agreement in 2000, trade between the two nations has increased dramatically. In 2014, two-way trade between Mexico and the UK reached over $4.3 billion USD.[10] Mexico exports to the UK include: gold, automobile parts, beer and other electrical equipment. British exports to Mexico include: alcohol, medicine, transistors and various other products. Mexico's trade with the UK amounted to 7.5% of total trade within the EU. Between 1999-2012, British companies invested over $8 billion USD in Mexico and over one thousand British companies have set up shop in Mexico.[11]

Drug trafficking

It has been reported that Mexican drug cartels have been using the port city of Liverpool for smuggling cocaine into Britain and Europe.[12][13]

In 2012, it was reported that the Sinaloa Cartel had drug distribution networks in England.[14]

In 2013, Scotland Yard broke a cocaine importation ring involving corrupt British Airways cargo workers at Heathrow airport importing cocaine from Mexico City.[15][16]

In March 2015, 4 British men were jailed for a total of 77 years for a major drug trafficking ring worth £11 million that involved "organised drug distributers based in Mexico City using British Airways transatlantic flights and a sophisticated team of distributors in London." [17]

Dual Year

President Enrique Peña Nieto speaking during a State Visit to the United Kingdom, March 2015.

The Year of Mexico in the United Kingdom and the Year of the United Kingdom in Mexico, taking place in 2015, will be a year of extensive, diverse and stimulating exchanges between Mexican and British people in terms of art, culture, science, the academic sector, business and tourism. Initially, it was to be a solely cultural project agreed between the chairman of the National Council for Culture and the Arts of Mexico, Rafael Tovar y de Teresa, and the Minister for Culture, Communications and Creative Industries of the United Kingdom, Edward Vaizey on 4 July 2013. Subsequently, the ministries of foreign affairs of both countries decided to expand the scope of the Dual Year to other areas.[18]

The many cultural events taking place in the United Kingdom include exhibitions of artists such as the British-born Mexican artist Leonora Carrington and Carlos Amorales; a flocloric Mexican dance spectacle by the Ballet Folklórico de México; a Lucha libre show at the Royal Albert Hall, as well as many seminars and concerts.[19] Mexico was the guest of honor at the 2015 London Book Fair.

In Mexico, a special drama series, "Los británicos" (The British), production of the BBC and British Council, aired on Canal 22 in February–April. Art exhibitions include artists such as Michael Landy, Stephen Willats and Simon Starling.[19] The UK will be the guest of honor at the Feria de las Culturas Amigas held in Mexico City[20] and the Guadalajara International Book Fair.

In March 2015, President Enrique Peña Nieto, accompanied by the First Lady, Angélica Rivera, paid a state visit to the United Kingdom.[7]

Resident diplomatic missions

See also

References

  1. ^ a b History of diplomatic relations between Mexico and the United Kingdom (in Spanish)
  2. ^ The Pastry War (Mexico vs. France, 1838-1839)
  3. ^ Mexican Expropriation of Foreign Oil, 1938
  4. ^ British Mexican Society
  5. ^ US-Latin bond survives Falklands war
  6. ^ Peña Nieto viajará a Irlanda del Norte para participar en la Cumbre del G8 (in Spanish)
  7. ^ a b Peña Nieto parte rumbo a Reino Unido por visita de Estado (in Spanish)
  8. ^ Margaret Thatcher Speech in Mexico
  9. ^ Inicia Príncipe de Gales visita en México (in Spanish)
  10. ^ Mexican Ministry of the Economy: United Kingdom (in Spanish)
  11. ^ Trade between Mexico and the United Kingdom (in Spanish)
  12. ^ http://www.europarl.europa.eu/document/activities/cont/201210/20121016ATT53710/20121016ATT53710EN.pdf
  13. ^ http://www.laht.com/article.asp?ArticleId=356998&CategoryId=14091=14091
  14. ^ http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/centralamericaandthecaribbean/mexico/9132625/Mexican-drug-cartels-operating-in-the-UK-France-and-Netherlands.html
  15. ^ http://www.standard.co.uk/news/crime/british-airways-cargo-workers-held-as-police-smash-multimillion-pound-cocaine-ring-at-heathrow-8883699.html
  16. ^ http://uk.mobile.reuters.com/article/idUKBRE99F0HY20131016?irpc=932
  17. ^ http://content.met.police.uk/News/Four-jailed-after-drugs-and-ammo-ring-smashed/1400030614547/1257246741786
  18. ^ Dual year of Mexico and the United Kingdom
  19. ^ a b Dual year of Mexico-UK: Events (in English and Spanish)
  20. ^ "Feria de las Culturas Amigas será de nuevo en el Zócalo". Milenio. Retrieved 5 May 2015.
  21. ^ Embassy of Mexico in London (in English and Spanish)
  22. ^ Embassy of the United Kingdom in Mexico (in English and Spanish)
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