 | |
 Mexico |  United Kingdom |
|---|---|
| Diplomatic mission | |
| Embassy of Mexico, London | British Embassy, Mexico City |
| Envoy | |
| AmbassadorJosefa González Blanco Ortiz Mena | Ambassadorvacant.[a] |
The nations ofMexico and theUnited Kingdom formally established diplomatic relations in 1826.[3] However, diplomatic relations were severed in 1861 after Mexico suspended payments on its foreign debt to the U.K. Diplomatic relations were re-established in 1864 when the U.K. recognized EmperorMaximilian I of Mexico.[4] After the death of the Emperor and the restoration of democracy in Mexico in 1867, relations were once again severed between both nations.
In 1884, diplomatic relations were restored under the Presidency ofPorfirio Díaz. However, in 1938 relations were once again suspended when PresidentLázaro Cárdenas ordered the expropriation of all oil companies in Mexico. Diplomatic relations were re-established duringWorld War II in 1941 and have continued unabated since.[3]
Both nations are members of theG20, theOrganisation for Economic Co-operation and Development and theUnited Nations.
After Mexico achieved its independence in September 1821, Britain was the first Europeangreat power to recognize Mexican sovereignty. Soon afterwards, EmperorAgustín de Iturbide sent a diplomatic envoy to London to establish diplomatic communications between the two nations and both nations formally established diplomatic relations on 26 December 1826 through the signing of the Treaty of Friendship, Navigation and Commerce, which was later ratified in 1837.[3][5][4] The British established a network of merchant houses in the major cities. According to historian Hilarie J. Heath, the results were bleak:
In November 1838, Mexico was involved in a brief war with France known as thePastry War. Britain supported Mexico and intervened to find a diplomatic solution to end the war. In March 1839, Mexico and France ended their war when Mexico acquiesced to the French demands.[7]
In 1861, PresidentBenito Juárez suspended Mexico's interest payments to its creditors in France, Spain, and Britain. This act angered the three nations and in October 1861 theConvention of London was signed by the three nations to send joint navy ships to Mexico as a show of force to demand repayment by the Mexican government. In December 1861 the "triple-alliance" took the port ofVeracruz and nearby towns. After a few months, both the Spanish and British government became evidently aware that EmperorNapoleon III of France was planning to initiate regime change in Mexico in order to expand its empire and take advantage of the fact that theUnited States was involved in itscivil war (1861–65) and was not able to implement theMonroe Doctrine. The U.S. did not recognize the regime propped up by French troops. In early 1862, Britain andSpain pulled its forces from Mexico. This French invasion would later be known as theSecond French intervention in Mexico. In 1864, France installed a puppet emperor in Mexico thus creating theSecond Mexican Empire which lasted until 1867 with the execution of EmperorMaximilian I of Mexico.[8] Britain had recognized his government, despite President Juárez never leaving the country. It nearly took 20 years for diplomatic relations to be restored, which was accomplished during the tenure of PresidentPorfirio Díaz. Díaz was a liberal Army general who had defended Mexico against the foreign invasion.[9]
After 1880, the British turned their attention in Mexico primarily to investments in railways and mines, sending both money and engineers and skilled mechanics. The British invested £7.4 million in railways during the 1880s, a figure that jumped to £53.4 million in the 1910s. The decade-total of new investment in mining went from £1.3 million in 1880s to £11.6 million in 1910s. Investments in land and other properties rose from near zero in 1880s to £19.7 million in 1910s. The totals reached £135 million, almost as much as the United States. In 1900, there were 2,800 British citizens living in Mexico, a relatively small number in contrast to the 15,000 Americans, 16,000 Spaniards, 4,000 French, and 2,600 Germans. The British were famed for their sophisticated clubs, and their elaborate sports programs:association football became a highly popular sport across Mexico; whilecricket found no interest amongst the Mexican populace.[10]
DuringWorld War I (1914–1918), Mexico was neutral while involved inits own civil war (1910–1920). In 1917 British intelligence intercepted theZimmermann Telegram, and gave it to the United States government. Zimmermann was the German Foreign Minister who tried to induce Mexico to join the war against the United States in the hope of diverting American attention away from Europe. Mexico ignored the offer since it realized that its weak military would be quickly overwhelmed by the Americans.[11]
In March 1938, PresidentLázaro Cárdenas expropriated all oil reserves, facilities, and foreign oil companies in Mexico. The British government, alongside the United States government, demanded compensation from the expropriation which the Mexican government refused to pay. As a result, diplomatic relations between the two nations were severed. Although relations were restored in 1942, the British government held out until 1947 in regards to demanding payment and was duly recompensated for the expropriation.[12]
In May 1942, Mexico declared war on theAxis powers duringWorld War II, thus officially entering on the side of theAllies. As a result of this, diplomatic relations between Mexico and the UK were re-established. Mexico was one of only twoLatin American countries to send soldiers abroad to fight in World War II (the second country beingBrazil). In 1944, both nations elevated their diplomatic representations to the level of embassies, and SirCharles Bateman became the first British ambassador in Mexico and José Maximiliano Alfonso de Rosenzweig Díaz became the first Mexican ambassador to the United Kingdom. After the war, bilateral relations between the two nations normalized and trade re-commenced.[13] In 1966, the first direct flights between Mexico City and London were inaugurated.
In 1973, PresidentLuis Echeverría became the first Mexican head-of-State to visit the U.K. In 1975, QueenElizabeth II paid her first State visit to Mexico. The Queen would visit for a second time in 1983.[4] In 1981, Prime MinisterMargaret Thatcher became the first British head-of-Government to visit Mexico to attend theNorth–South Summit in Cancún.[3]
Mexico remained neutral during theFalklands War (April–June 1982); however, it was well known that the Mexican government did not support themilitary junta in Argentina at the time and secretly supported the UK.[14]
The Year of Mexico in the United Kingdom and the Year of the United Kingdom in Mexico, which took place in 2015, was a year of extensive, diverse and stimulating exchanges between Mexican and British people in terms of art, culture, science, the academic sector, business and tourism. Initially, it was to be a solely cultural project agreed between the chairman of theNational Council for Culture and the Arts of Mexico,Rafael Tovar y de Teresa, and the Minister for Culture, Communications and Creative Industries of the United Kingdom,Edward Vaizey, on 4 July 2013. Subsequently, the ministries of foreign affairs of both countries decided to expand the scope of the Dual Year to other areas.[15]
The many cultural events that took place in the United Kingdom included exhibitions of artists such as the British-born Mexican artistLeonora Carrington andCarlos Amorales; a folkloric Mexican dance spectacle by theBallet Folklórico de México; aLucha libre show at theRoyal Albert Hall, as well as many seminars and concerts.[16] Mexico was the guest of honour at the 2015London Book Fair.
In Mexico, a special drama series,Los británicos ("The British"), a production of theBBC andBritish Council, aired onCanal 22 in February–April. Art exhibitions include artists such asMichael Landy,Stephen Willats andSimon Starling.[16] The UK was the guest of honour at theFeria de las Culturas Amigas held in Mexico City[17] and theGuadalajara International Book Fair.
In March 2015, PresidentEnrique Peña Nieto, accompanied by the First Lady,Angélica Rivera, paid aState visit to the United Kingdom.[18]
In September 2022, Mexican Foreign SecretaryMarcelo Ebrard flew to London to represent Mexico and attend theState funeral of Queen Elizabeth II.[19] In 2023, both nations celebrated 200 years of friendship.[20]
In May 2024, it was revealed that the British ambassador,Jon Benjamin, had been removed from his position earlier in the year when a video emerged of him pointing an apparently loaded machine gun at embassy employees while on tour of the Mexican states ofSinaloa andDurango.[1][21]
High-level visits from Mexico to the United Kingdom[4][22][18]
High-level visits from the United Kingdom to Mexico[4][23][24]
Both nations have signed several bilateral agreements such as an Extradition Treaty (1886); Agreement for the Transmission of Diplomatic Pouches (1946); Agreement for Consular Relations (1954); Agreement of Scientific and Technical Cooperation (1975); Agreement of Cultural Cooperation (1975); Agreement of Air Transportation (1988); Agreement of Cooperation in the Fight Against the Illicit Traffic and Abuse of Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (1990); Agreement to Avoid Double Taxation and Prevent Tax Evasion in Taxes on Income and Capital Gains (1994); Agreement of Mutual Assistance in the Investigation, Assurance and Confiscation of Criminal Products and Instruments different from those of the Traffic of Narcotic Drugs (1996); Treaty on the Execution of Criminal Sentences (2004); Agreement for the Promotion and Reciprocal Protection of Investments (2006); Agreement on Mutual Recognition of Studies, Degrees, Diplomas and Academic Degrees of Higher Education between both nations (2015); Agreement on the Mutual Recognition and Protection of the Designations of Spirit Drinks (2020); and a Trade Continuity Agreement (2020).[25]
There are direct flights between both nations, operated byAeroméxico,British Airways andTUI Airways.
In 1997, Mexico signed aFree Trade Agreement with theEuropean Union, of which the United Kingdom was a member until 2020. Since the implementation of the free trade agreement in 2000, trade between the two nations has increased dramatically. In 2023, two-way trade between Mexico and the UK reached over US$5.6 billion.[26] Mexico's main exports to the UK include: turbojets, turbopropellers and other gas turbines; telephones and mobile phones, parts and accessories for motor vehicles, tubes and pipes of iron or steel, minerals, medical instruments, coffee, fruit, honey, fish, and alcohol. The U.K.'s main exports to Mexico include: machinery and mechanical appliances, motor cars and other vehicles, medical instruments, chemical based products, ferroalloys, iron, steel, platinum, and clothing articles.[26]
From 28 July 2014 until 30 December 2020, trade between Mexico and the UK was governed by theEuropean Union–Mexico Free Trade Agreement, while the United Kingdom was amember of theEuropean Union.[27]
Following thewithdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union, the UK and Mexico signed theMexico–United Kingdom Trade Continuity Agreement on 15 December 2020. The Mexico–United Kingdom Trade Continuity Agreement is acontinuity trade agreement, based on the EU free trade agreement, which entered into force on 1 January 2021.[28][29] Trade value between Mexico and the United Kingdom was worth £5,868 million in 2022.[30] Additionally the two countries are negotiating aFree Trade Agreement.[31]
In July 2023, the United Kingdom signed the agreement toaccede to theComprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership, a trade bloc of which Mexico is a founding member.[32]
Thepaste is a pastry withCornish roots. Introduced by miners from Cornwall who were contracted in the towns of Real del Monte and Pachuca in Hidalgo.[33] The Cornish miners may have also introduced theturnip to Mexico.[34]
The Cornish introduced institutionalizedfootball to Mexico.[35] A plaque was placed at the site of the first game in Real del Monte. The English also introduced other popular sports such asrugby union,tennis,cricket,polo, andchess. However, cricket lost popularity during World War I, when British expatriates had to leave Mexico to fight.[36] Football clubs founded by Britons included theBritish Club,Rovers FC Mexico andReforma Athletic Club. The most successful club founded by Britons isC.F. Pachuca.
It has been reported that Mexican drug cartels have been using the port city ofLiverpool for smuggling cocaine into Britain and Europe.[37] In 2012, it was reported that theSinaloa Cartel had drug distribution networks in England.[38] In 2013,Scotland Yard broke a cocaine importation ring involving corrupt British Airways cargo workers atHeathrow Airport importing cocaine from Mexico City.[39]
In 2017, it was reported that the Sinaloa Cartel had formed a pact with a Romanian crime syndicate who had control over transportation, which would allow the cartel to operate in Britain.[40] A spokesperson for theNational Crime Agency said "intelligence indicates that the Romanian OCG [organised crime group] are still being supplied by a Mexican OCG linked to the Sinaloa cartel. It is assessed that this network of OCGs will continue to supply large volumes of class A drugs into the UK."[41]
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