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US-Mexican Relations III. No tengo un subtítulo. Qué lástima. US-MEX relations from an international security perspective (20th Century):. Threat of war unlikely. Each was a theoretical security threat to the other.
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US-Mexican Relations III No tengo un subtítulo. Qué lástima.
US-MEX relations from an international security perspective (20th Century): • Threat of war unlikely. • Each was a theoretical security threat to the other. • Note: 19th century experience of the Mexicans vis-à-vis the US (and early 20th)
BASIC 20TH CENTURY GOALS • MEXICO • Options not available: balancing with other states or internal development of sufficient might so as to resist. • Options available: open alliance or abnegation • US: Wanted to keep Mexico from having allies who were a military threat to the US (minimally acceptable outcome)
POLICY • 1940s-late 1960s • note: what was Mexico’s defense against an extra-continental attack • how does this strategy fit this reality? • how is political geography relevant? • note: 1951, Mexico refused to sign a defense assistance treaty with US • never broke ties with Cuba • note on 41—the lack of a small military in Mexico and the potential domestic politics implications
POLICY • Mexico: • Eschewed alliances with any US rival • Pursued no foreign policy interest that the US might construe as a threat • Failed to develop a military capability that could resist the US • Relied on many different international sources for weapons • Cooperated little or not at all with US over international security issues
Changes over Time • Breaks down in the 70s and into the 80s, drugs become more of an issue • 1980s and Central America causes its own issues
Changes over Time • 1990s: bandwagoning (def on 36) • Eschewed alliances with any US rival • Pursued no foreign policy interest that the US might construe as a threat • Failed to develop a military capability that could resist the US • Built up a substantial military capability to advance joint US-Mex anti-narcotics goals • Tilted towards US suppliers of weapons • Cooperated with US over int’l security, especially drugs and tolerated some unilateral actions by the US (source: Domínguez,, et al., 36-37)
Changes over Time • ISSUES: • -Border: Treaty of Guadelupe-Hidalgo (1848) and Gadsden Treaty/Treaty of Mesilla (1853) and the agreement over the Chamizal (ended in 1963). • -Labor/Immigration
Changes over Time • -illegal immigrants • -Bracero Agreement (WWII, Korea, early Cold War)—basically a formal “guest worker” agreement • -Narcotics/Intoxicants • -Marijuana early on • -Alcohol during prohibition • -Modern Ere began in 1969 • -Operation: Intercept • -border closing/economic blackmail • -Operations: Condor • -poppy and marijuana elimination • -changed US-Mex relations • -Camarena assassination in 1985 • -1986 and the creation of the certification process