The Mexican government is launching a campaign to promote a better image of the country in the United States, in an effort to counter the extremely negative portrayal espoused by Republican hopeful Donald Trump.
Francisco Guzman, President Enrique Peña Nieto’s chief of staff, is heading the diplomatic campaign.
“Mexico’s positioning in the U.S. election debate is not generally adequate,” Guzman said. “It doesn’t reflect the constructive relationship between Mexico and the U.S.”
The plan is to use Mexico’s extensive network of consulates to promote the idea that a strong and positive relationship between Mexico and the United States is important. The campaign will include forums with key figures in business, politicians and public figures. Ultimately, Mexican officials want to meet the presidential candidates in 2016 and discuss the bilateral relationship.
Trump has called Mexican migrants rapists and drug runners and has called for a massive wall to be built to prevent any undocumented immigration.
The Mexican government has denied accusations that it is interested in meddling in U.S. election affairs.
“We’re not going to involve ourselves in the (U.S. presidential) debate. We don’t want to polarize, but we do want to have a positive institutional relationship as we’ve had in the past,” Guzman said.
“The US-Mexico relationship requires more bridges and fewer walls. The isolationist solution is not a solution at all.”
Until now, the Mexican government has not responded to Trump’s rhetoric, although key public figures, including both predecessors of the current president, have both publicly criticized him.
Former President Vicente Fox has compared Trump to Hitler. He has also expressed concerns that a Donald Trump presidency could lead Mexico and the United States to “serious” diplomatic problems and a trade war that would hurt both countries.
Many Mexican commentators and analysts have expressed anger at Trump’s depiction of the relationship with Mexico, pointing that there are currently more United States citizens moving to Mexico than vice versa.