The foreign policy of Andrés Manuel López Obrador: the president's role and the delegation to bureaucracies

Abstract

Mexican foreign policy (PEM) has remained constant since the 20th century, emphasizing relations with the United States and a liberal economic orientation, influenced by right-wing presidents and structural factors. However, the end of the long rule of the Institutional Revolutionary Party has rekindled debate over possible changes. This article examines PEM from 2019 to 2023, a period characterized by transformational expectations under Andrés Manuel López Obrador's (AMLO) presidency. Using a theoretical framework grounded in the core tenets of foreign policy analysis and a qualitative case study methodology, this study draws on both primary and secondary sources, evaluated through interpretative content analysis. We place special emphasis on AMLO's management, scrutinizing his potential impact, the delegation of responsibilities to specialized bureaucracies, and the modifications in foreign policy. We argue that, on one hand, AMLO adopted a predominantly pragmatic profile on structural issues, such as relations with the U.S., where he chose to leverage bureaucratic competence and maintain continuity. On the other hand, in spheres of greater autonomy, such as relations with Latin America and the Caribbean, he adopted more ideological positions, though instrumentalizing them to please his domestic base. Despite expectations, AMLO has not yet brought about revolutionary changes in foreign policy, with structural factors being decisive in the outcome.