This diplomatic gesture seems to have several purposes. In the public statements, AMLO pledged support for Argentina in negotiations with the International Monetary Fund (IMF). They also made routine expressions of optimism about improving trade between Argentina and Mexico, which is currently very little.
Another purpose is one they expressed in a negative way. As Alejandra Canchola y Alberto Morales report (AMLO nos ayudará a resolver nuestra deuda: presidente electo de Argentina El Universal 04.11.2019):
Fernández specified that there was no discussion of a theme similar to the progressive front against neoliberalism in Latin America, as proposed by Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro; "we simply want to implement policies that help social equality."(All translations from Spanish in this post are mine.)
However, he said his government would focus with particular interest on integrating with Latin America and joining forces to improve the situation of some countries with international debts.
Which seems to me to be a diplomatic way of saying this is exactly what we're doing but we're not declaring a political war against the US and the Trump Administration. Both AMLO and Fernández are associated with the Grupo Pueblo, an alliance of progressive Latin American leaders. And this meeting was clearly a display by the northernmost mainly-Spanish-speaking country and Argentina in the south of aiming at improved Latin American unity for the purpose of promoting development and resisting at least portions of the dominant neoliberal model, which is currently exploding politically in a dramatic way in Chile. (John Ackerman, Neoliberalismo en crisis Proceso 02.11.2019)
AMLO has also managed an uneasy relationship with the Trump Administration without obvious blowups since becoming Mexican President in December 2018. I'm sure that Fernández was also hoping to get some specific practical advice about dealing with the deranged American President. Argentina is already facing the need to make significant cuts in the principal and interest on their national debt which the outgoing rightwing government of Mauricio Macri ran up enormously with little or no actual direct benefit to the Argentine economy. So Fernández has to expect that the Trump Administration will be out to undermine his Peronist government, so he needs all the good advice and alliances that he can get.
Carolina Rivera reports on how Fernández characterized AMLO's politics (Alberto Fernández buscará aplicar políticas sociales de AMLO en Argentina Milenio 04.11.2019):
Argentina's president-elect stated that Andrés Manuel López Obrador's election triumph in 2018 was a breath of fresh air for Latin America, where inequality and poverty have permeated large sections of society.She also quotes Fernández as follows:
"The triumph of Andrés Manuel López Obrador was a breath of fresh air, it was an opportunity to review everything that was going on in Latin America, we have to reflect with Latin America, with the deferment of large social sectors that have gradually been left in marginality and poverty, and in marginality and poverty no one finds a future.
“We are leaders respectful of the institutionalism and of democracy that we are raising, conscious of what has prevailed in recent times, we seek to find the lost equity in Latin America, we seek social equality in Latin America."
Questioned about its participation in the Puebla Group, a forum of progressive leaders of the region, Fernández said that the objective of this group goes beyond expanding an ideology opposing neoliberalism to achieve balance and social equality social in the region.But AMLO did make a point of using the word "austerity" in his presentation (López Obrador: "Queremos fortalecer la relación entre nuestros pueblos" Página/12 04.11.2019):
“We feel that we need to bring up policies that again take back those abandoned by the current system, that put them back on the stage of each of our countries on the social stage, those that have been left out. That's our priority," he said.
In that tone, the Mexican president avoided declare himself with respect to the debate over the depletion of the neoliberal model and stressed that the "good-neighborly" relationship with its North American neighbors, with whom it is closing a new agreement, which will replace NAFTA. In addition, he expressed his appreciation of his "very good relationship" with President Donald Trump, who last Friday offered his congratulations to Alberto Fernández.Obviously, relations with Venezuela are a touchy point right now in US-Latin American relations and among Latin American nations. (Maduro dice que AMLO es “aliado” en frente antineoliberal; López Obrador lo niega Aristegui Noticias 04.11.2019; Ezequiel Rudman, Alberto hizo equilibrio entre Washington y Caracas Ámbito 05.11.2019)
"It is good that our experience of not continuing to apply the same economic policy as always is known We must opt for changes, balance, maintain macroeconomic variables, be responsible, apply a true policy of austerity, be very strict in the fight against corruption, that should be no luxuries in government", López Obrador described the model he proposes from Mexico.
See also:Con el presidente @lopezobrador_ compartimos la misma visión sobre los desafíos que América Latina enfrenta. Ambos valoramos la institucionalidad y la democracia tanto como la igualdad y la equidad.— Alberto Fernández (@alferdez) November 5, 2019
Le agradezco su generosidad y compromiso. Tenemos muchas cosas por hacer juntos. pic.twitter.com/o1TIi9Qbnu
EN VIVO | conferencia de prensa desde México 11/04/2019:
- Fernando Cibeira, Alberto Fernández se reunió con López Obrador Página/12 04.11.2019
- Fernando Cibeira, Alberto Fernández recibió el apoyo de López Obrador y advirtió al FMI Página/12 04.11.2019
- Román Lejtman, Alberto Fernández y López Obrador sellaron una amistad personal y política que puede influir en la Argentina y América Latina Infobae 04.11.2019
- Fernando Cibeira, Alberto Fernández con Carlos Slim y otros empresario mexicanos Página/12 05.11.2019
