Relations between Mexico and the United States under the Trump administration

Abstract

Starting with the burdened history of the bilateral relations between the U.S. and his neighbor Mexico and using the analytical concepts of (neo)realism and social constructivism, the paper evaluates the results of the first year of this relationship under the presidency of Donald Trump. The priority areas of the White House were the construction of a wall on the border, the renegotiation (or abolition) of NAFTA and the immigration policy. The outcomes of these three policies are rather modest, the gap between rhetoric and reality until today is remarkable, partly as a consequence of a proper functioning of the democratic institutions in Washington. The bilateral relations are without doubt under stress, but not eroded. Insecurity continues to characterize the negotiations over NAFTA, the status of many Mexican (and Central American) immigrants in the United States and the future of bilateral border and security cooperation. The presidential elections in July of this year threaten to increase this insecurity not only in bilateral relations but also with respect to their impact for the whole region.