Antony Blinken prepares “virtual visits” with Mexico and Canada

The Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, will carry out tomorrow, Friday, two “virtual visits” to Mexico and Canada to talk about migration, the covid pandemic – 19, economic recovery and energy policy.

The Deputy Undersecretary of State for Latin America, Julie Chung , explained in a call with journalists that the “virtual visit” format was chosen and not physical for security reasons due to the coronavirus pandemic.

“ The virtual travel (…) prioritizes the health and safety while demonstrating the importance of our relationship with our neighbors and some of our closest partners, “said the State Department spokesman, Ned Price.

In the “visit” to Mexico, Blinken will hold bilateral meetings with the secretary Mexican Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Marcelo Ebrard, and with the Secretary of Economy, Tatiana Clouthier.

“He will speak with his Mexican counterparts about our bilateral trade relationship, shared security challenges, regional migration, climate change and other issues of mutual interest,” Price said in a statement.

“The United States and Mexico enjoy a strong partnership and this trip reinforces the importance of that relationship under the Administration (of US President Joe) Biden,” he added.

Blinken’s “trip” includes a “visit” to the border port of Paso del Norte, which links El Paso (Texas), and Ciudad Juárez (Mexico), where the US official and Ebrard “will discuss cooperation between Mexico and the United States to manage migration flows. and travel across the US-Mexico border, ”Price said.

Later, the secretary State io “will virtually travel to Canada”, where it will follow up on results of the bilateral meeting that Biden held with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Tuesday.

That was the “first virtual bilateral meeting” of Joe Biden as president, and in it a “roadmap” of the relationship between both countries, the spokesperson recalled.

During the day, Blinken will meet with Trudeau and with his Canadian counterpart, Marc Garneau.

“They will discuss a common approach to global challenges, such as protecting our citizens from the pandemic and revitalizing our economies, taking bold action against climate change, defending human rights (…) and strengthening our shared defense and security, ”he added.

Among the matters that the Secretary of State will discuss with the representatives s Mexicans and Canadians there will be a “priority issue”, energy, according to US officials.

The Mexican Chamber of Deputies approved this week the controversy reform of the Electricity Industry Law, which privileges the state Federal Electricity Commission ( CFE), to the detriment of private generators.

Shortly after taking office, Biden decided to cancel the Keystone XL project, a company’s oil pipeline that was destined to export hundreds of thousands of barrels of Canadian crude to the United States to refineries in the country.

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