Mexico's President Claudia Sheinbaum Wields Unique Control and Leeway in Foreign Relations

Strategic Insights -

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum has recently met with Canadian Finance Minister François-Philippe Champagne and Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand, with Sheinbaum expressing a desire to improve relations with Canada and promote investment. However, despite Sheinbaum's efforts to project a sense of control and dominance over the national agenda, the Canadian delegation's low profile in Mexico underscores the country's relatively limited engagement in foreign relations. Sheinbaum's ability to prioritize her domestic agenda and dictate the narrative on Mexico's response to US President Donald Trump's tariff threats has raised questions about the implications of her strategy and the level of concessions she is willing to make.

Key Takeaways:

  • Sheinbaum boasts a 75% approval rating, according to newspaper El Financiero, allowing her to wield significant influence over the media landscape and maintain a tight grip on the national agenda.
  • Canada's low profile in Mexico is underscored by the brevity of Sheinbaum's comments regarding the Canadian delegation, highlighting the relative lack of attention and engagement from Canadian politicians in Mexico.
  • Sheinbaum has received plaudits for her ability to handle Trump by keeping a "cool head," but her acceptance of steep concessions without drawing a sharp outcry has raised questions about her willingness to acquiesce to US demands.
  • Mexico has not imposed countervailing tariffs on US goods, unlike Canada, which has contributed to the country's relatively limited engagement in foreign relations.
  • Sheinbaum's strategy of "live to fight another day" is contrasted with Canada's more assertive approach, with one analyst describing the bar for Sheinbaum as "very low" compared to the high expectations placed on Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney.
  • Social programs have provided a boost to Sheinbaum's approval ratings, including cash stipends for seniors, single mothers, and students.
  • The Mexican economy has slumped, but the US dollar's weakness has strengthened the Mexican peso, providing a potential economic benefit to Sheinbaum's strategy.
  • Polls show deep Mexican disapproval of Trump, with 86% of respondents expressing negative views of the US President in a July survey.

Statistics:

  • 75% approval rating for Sheinbaum, according to newspaper El Financiero
  • 86% of Mexicans view Trump unfavorably, according to a July survey in El Financiero
  • 51% of Mexicans viewed the US favorably six months earlier, compared to 29% in July
  • 29% of Mexicans view the US favorably, down from 51% six months earlier
  • 10,000 soldiers have been deployed to the northern border to stop the smuggling of illegal fentanyl
  • 29 drug cartel bosses have been handed over to US justice officials
  • Mexico has stopped thousands of migrants from transiting the country toward the US border
  • The peso is climbing, with a significant increase in value compared to the US dollar
  • The Mexican economy has slumped in 2025

Sources:

  • El Financiero, "Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum's approval rating: 75%"
  • The New York Times, "Trump Secretly Signed Directive to Use Military Force Against Cartels"
  • Arturo Sarukhán, former Mexican ambassador in Washington, quoted in the article
  • El Financiero, July survey, 86% of Mexicans view Trump unfavorably
  • Carlos Heredia, professor at the Center for Research and Teaching in Economics, quoted in the article
  • Luis Antonio Espino, Mexican political analyst in Toronto, quoted in the article