麻豆传媒映画

Natalia Saltalamacchia Ziccardi came of age as the world was being reshaped by the end of the Cold War.  Maps she studied as a child suddenly changed. New countries emerged. As she began college, the world looked different.

鈥淚t was a fascinating time to start studying international relations,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 wanted to understand the place of my country, Mexico, in that new world.鈥�

Saltalamacchia is now a professor and chair of the Department of International Studies at the Instituto Tecnologico Aut贸noma de Mexico in Mexico City.  Formerly the Director General of the Matias Romero Institute with Mexico鈥檚 Ministry of Foreign Affairs from 2015-18, her research focuses on Mexican foreign policy, diplomacy, and international organizations.

On Wednesday, Oct. 14, Saltalamacchia will deliver the keynote address at the at 麻豆传媒映画. She is the inaugural speaker of C谩tedra Mexico, a guest lecture series initiated by the Mexican Consul General in San Diego and 麻豆传媒映画 that aims to build binational understanding.

Saltalamacchia鈥檚 keynote examines the U.S.-Mexico relationship from a Mexican perspective, shedding light on one of the world鈥檚 most impactful binational partnerships. Last week, she previewed her remarks in an interview with 麻豆传媒映画 NewsCenter.

How should Americans understand the importance of the U.S.-Mexico relationship?

North American integration is an asset and can be a source of America's strength. We are not only trading partners, but we are also producing things together through very deeply interconnected supply chains that produce jobs and foster competitiveness on both sides of the border.

I think this is particularly important to understand in an international context in which we are seeing profound transformation, and the strategic competition between the United States and China is increasing. What the Mexican government is trying to convey is that by deepening productive integration, Mexico and the United States can strengthen North America's industrial capacity, build more resilient supply chains, and be more competitive together in the global economy.

So, I think one of the central messages of the Mexican government is that a strong and productive partnership between Mexico and the United States can be part of the solution to America's challenges.

What historical events shaped the U.S.-Mexico relationship, and how do these experiences continue to influence relations today?

I would mention two historical periods that are important to understand. The first period is the 19th century and the early 20th century when Mexico suffered territorial losses and interventions by the United States. These historical experiences left a profound mark on Mexican political culture, on Mexican diplomacy. They explain why we are so attached to the principle of non-intervention and respect for national sovereignty.

The second period began in the mid-1980s when Mexico's economic development model changed towards the export-oriented and market economy model, and the signing of the North American Free Trade Agreement.

Before that, Mexican policymakers conceived of the proximity with the United States as a source of vulnerability. Whereas after that, the proximity with the United States began to be seen as a true source of opportunities.

These two things are very present in our foreign policy today. Mexico wants to be a good partner to the United States, an excellent friend, but at the same time is interested in its sovereignty and in maintaining political autonomy.

What are the key issues where the countries are most closely aligned, and where do their priorities diverge?

They fundamentally share the interest in economic prosperity and regional competitiveness.  Also, they share the need to address common challenges such as drug trafficking and border security. Our interdependence makes collaboration not only an option, but a necessity.

We can both make that diagnosis, but the truth is that sometimes we differ in how to pursue those objectives. For instance, on trade, right now, the United States is emphasizing tariffs, whereas Mexico seeks to preserve the benefits of North American integration.

In terms of security cooperation, both countries are saying we need to tackle this jointly, but for Mexico, it is important to maintain the principle of shared responsibility and respect for national sovereignty.

And in terms of the more general international outlook, I think there are differences there as well, because of course the United States is a superpower. The United States engages the whole world. We mentioned the strategic competition with China and with other powers, whereas Mexico has another place in the world. We are, at most, a middle power, and we need and want to pursue good international relationships with many countries.

How does Mexico understand the migration challenge, and what responsibilities should each country share?

I think it's a very important question. Look, Mexico has a broad perspective on migration because we are simultaneously a country of origin, destination, transit and return.

So, we experience every dimension, every facet of this complex phenomenon. Mexico's position is that migration should be a personal choice and not a necessity imposed by, say, violence, poverty, or environmental conditions. From this perspective, we should tackle the issue through addressing root causes and through international development cooperation.

Border enforcement and control measures are indeed part of the menu, but not one which dominates the entire migration agenda. That's Mexico's position.

Mexico advocates for a regional and multilateral approach to managing migration. Mexico believes that unilateral policies are not effective because this is a migration corridor. Each country of the migration corridor should contribute based on the principle of shared responsibility but also differentiated responsibility, each according to their own capacities. This cannot be solved by one country alone.

What are the most common misconceptions that people in the United States have about Mexico and vice versa?

The United States tends to see Mexico through the lens of violence and drugs. Those are real challenges, but they do not define Mexico as a country. Mexico has a diverse and sophisticated economy, a rich cultural and intellectual life. It is a welcoming society. We have the ability to make people from different backgrounds feel at home. Mexico is much more than crime and violence.

On the Mexican side, I think we sometimes make the mistake of equating the United States with the government or its foreign policy. We tend to overlook that there is an extraordinary diversity in American society, and that there are very different perspectives within the country itself.

What role do our border communities play in shaping the relationship?

They experience the challenges and the opportunities on a daily basis, and what is most important, they understand that what happens on one side of the border inevitably has consequences on the other side.

Cali-Baja is a wonderful example. It demonstrates how local actors can take initiative. I've seen that with businesses, civil society organizations, universities, local governments working together and creating networks across the border to find solutions together.

What do you hope the audience takes away from your talk?

Above all, I encourage the audience to cultivate mutual empathy. And by empathy, I mean the ability to see the world through the other side, to understand their historical experiences, their concerns, and why it is that we sometimes see the same reality differently.

And empathy does not mean to always agree on every issue. It does mean understanding each other well enough to find common ground. In this spirit, I want to invite the audience to see the bilateral relationship and understand that Mexico's perspective of the United States has evolved positively over time and understand how we see our shared future in North America.

I think one central message is that a stronger partnership between Mexico and the United States cannot be solely based on shared material interests. It requires a deeper understanding of each other and, as we said before, respect for our differences.