Mexico: Foreign Relations

Mexico's foreign policy has historically rested on the principles of nonintervention and self-determination, formalized in the Estrada Doctrine of 1930, and pursued through active participation in multilateral bodies including the United Nations, the Organization of American States, and the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), which Mexico joined in 1994. Mexico's foreign relations have long been shaped above all by its extensive shared border and deep economic interdependence with the United States.

As of 2026, the United States remains Mexico's dominant trading partner, with the two economies linked through the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA). The relationship has faced strain amid an ongoing joint review of the USMCA launched in 2026, new U.S. tariffs on Mexican imports introduced in February 2026, and retaliatory Mexican tariffs on goods from countries without free trade agreements. Even so, the Mexican and U.S. governments have maintained regular high-level communication as negotiations over trade, migration, and organized crime continue.

Beyond its relationship with Washington, Mexico maintains an active diplomatic presence across Latin America, Europe, and the Asia-Pacific, participating in the Pacific Alliance, the G20, and the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum. Mexico has long supported Cuba diplomatically and opposed the U.S. embargo on the island, a position consistent with its historical foreign policy tradition of nonintervention. The country also plays a prominent role in regional discussions on Central American migration and security, reflecting its geographic position bridging North and Central America.