This Tuesday, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo confirmed that she did not receive an invitation to attend the inauguration ceremony of Donald Trump as President of the United States on January 20, and indicated that the government of our country will have Ambassador Esteban Moctezuma as its representative.
Although it is not common practice for heads of state from other countries to attend the event held in Washington every four years, reporters from the morning show have repeatedly questioned the Mexican president if she will attend said event, to which she responded that “nothing happens.”
Armando Guzmán, a correspondent in Washington for several years, clarified that the United States government did not invite Sheinbaum to the “inauguration” for any particular reason, but simply because it is not a formality.
The journalist in the US capital added that in previous inaugurations the prime ministers of nations such as France, Great Britain or Canada have not been seen, therefore, the fact of not inviting the president of Mexico does not represent any anomaly in diplomatic relations.
The United States government does not invite foreign heads of state to presidential inaugurations in Washington only for protocol and practical reasons, since this act is considered domestic policy, which only former presidents of that nation attend.
In addition, the presence of multiple heads of state in the North American capital could generate logistical and security challenges due to the high profile of the guests and the need to protect them in an event of this magnitude.
Guzmán explained that this Monday the United States government officially sent the invitation to the Mexican ambassador, Esteban Moctezuma, who is part of the diplomatic corps in that country.
Although President-elect Donald Trump modified the protocol by extending invitations to the presidents of Ecuador, Argentina, El Salvador and the prime minister of Italy, the correspondent in Washington explained that this decision is due to the new American president’s affinity for right-wing governments.
The only Mexican president who had the opportunity to travel to the United States prior to taking office was Carlos Salinas de Gortari, who in 1994 had the opportunity to be the first head of state to meet privately with Bill Clinton, due to the importance of the entry into force of the North American Free Trade Agreement. This meeting took place in the city of Austin, Texas, and not in Washington.
Source: infobae
