Weekly Report - 09 April 2026 (WR-26-14)

Mexico’s President Claudia Sheinbaum has appointed Roberto Velasco Álvarez as the country’s new foreign minister. She announced her pick to head up the foreign ministry (SRE) on 1 April, following the resignation of Juan Ramón de la Fuente for health reasons. The appointment marks a generational shift with Velasco, at 38 years old, almost half the age of his predecessor. As an expert in US relations, his appointment also reflects the ever-greater focus that the US is set to play in Mexico’s foreign policy. Velasco takes over at a crucial moment, as the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) is up for review and US President Donald Trump continues to pressure Mexico in the fight against drug cartels.