Amlo on Israel

Andrés Manuel López Obrador, known as AMLO, adopted a position of calculated neutrality regarding the conflict between Israel and Hamas, emphasizing non-intervention and a search for peaceful solutions above condemnations. Following the October 7th attack, his Foreign Ministry issued an initial statement condemning terrorism and recognizing Israel's right to self-defense, but the President himself quickly walked back the direct condemnation of the attack, insisting Mexico would not take sides. This nuanced stance disappointed some pro-Palestinian advocates, one of whom noted that Israel's ambassador stated that not taking a side effectively supports terror. The President's commitment to neutrality aligns with Mexico's long-standing foreign policy principles of non-intervention and self-determination, which he often prioritized over taking firm international stances lacking domestic political benefit.

This position is complicated by underlying bilateral ties, as critics noted a contradiction between the official rhetoric and Mexico's economic and military relationship with Israel. For instance, Mexico imports technology and training from Israel, and the Israeli government has previously been accused of protecting Mexican fugitives sought for serious crimes, leading to public friction. Despite this complexity, AMLO’s administration also took the diplomatic step of requesting to join South Africa's case at the International Court of Justice accusing Israel of genocide in Gaza. Observers suggested that his successor would likely maintain this pragmatic, circumspect engagement to harmonize human rights concerns with the preservation of Mexico’s diplomatic and economic interests.