Nicolas Maduro’s capture definitely shook the relationship between the United States and Latin America. However, one Latin American country has always had a complex relationship with the United States: Mexico. Sharing a substantial border, both countries have a history of territorial disputes and economic interdependence. Not unlike Colombia and Cuba, Mexico’s relationship with the U.S. is multifaceted and includes factors such as: criminal organizations, cross-border trade, geography, immigration, and a substantial cultural overlap.
As with most of the places we have mentioned, the history of the people living in what is now Mexico is quite extensive. Because I am focusing on the contemporary relationship between the U.S. and Mexico, I will use the Mexican-American War (1846-1848) as a starting point. The conflict began over the annexation of Texas by the U.S., particularly the location of the border. With the U.S. claiming it was the Rio Grande and Mexico asserting it was the Nueces River. Ultimately, the war resulted in an American victory and confirmed U.S. control of Texas, leading to the Mexican Cession whereby the U.S. obtained present-day California, New Mexico, and Arizona as well as portions of Colorado, and Wyoming.
After the war, many of the people living in the area were forced to endure a transition of their lands from Mexican to American control. This presented many cultural, legal and political challenges. As a result, incursions along the border were commonplace and hostilities created an atmosphere that could be exploited by outside powers. One such example is the Zimmermann Telegram in which the German Empire proposed that Mexico declare war on the U.S. if they entered WWI against Germany. In turn Germany would help Mexico regain Texas, Arizona, and New Mexico. News of the telegram stoked anti-German sentiments and skepticism of Mexico in the U.S.
I thought this presented a unique opportunity to examine Mexico’s relationship with the U.S. as well as other Latin American countries. When I took a vacation to Cancun in May 2023, friends and family expressed concerns regarding violence. Mexico, just like Colombia, has an unfortunate reputation for narcotrafficking. However, just as I learned in Bogota, the existence of this problem does not represent a country’s entire culture and history.
Nonetheless, the recent killing of Nemesio Rubén Oseguera Cervantes or “El Mencho” and the outburst of violence that ensued, resulted in many tourists being trapped at their resorts. This was a scenario that concerned me on my trip. Therefore, it seemed like a good prompt for me to revisit my firsthand experience in Cancun, Chichen Itza, and some local shops and restaurants in Mexico. I also had a very memorable experience kayaking with some sharks and pushing my luck with some snorkeling afterwards.
With regard to safety concerns; Colombia, Cuba, and Mexico all generated uneasiness from those close to me. Cuba made people uneasy because of the political strife with the U.S. Whereas Colombia and Mexico prompted concerns about narcotrafficking and the violence associated with it. In each case, I saw the implementation of increased security in response to these concerns. In Cuba, the government restricted our freedom of movement and expression. In Colombia and Mexico, there was more freedom but a heightened police and military presence.
In the case of Cuba, it lost its primary partner in the region when Maduro was captured, making them more vulnerable to U.S. pressure. Colombia also felt the consequences in the form of refugees and attempting to maintain peace with the guerrillas who were allegedly supported by the Maduro regime. There is also the issue of cocaine production, which finds its way to the U.S. via Mexican cartels. This is where Mexico gets caught in the fray. Mexico is one of the few countries that maintains diplomatic relations with Cuba. It is also home to major routes for human trafficking and narcotrafficking into the U.S. This includes cocaine produced in Colombia, allegedly at the behest of the guerillas and elements in the Venezuelan government.
All of this while sharing a border and engaging in significant economic activity with the U.S. who is also their primary critic. Interestingly, the U.S. has some internal forces that restrain its pressure on these countries. Cuban Americans in Southern Florida, as well as Mexican-Americans along the border, have become a substantial cultural and political force in the U.S. Not only do these communities feel the effects of U.S. relations in Latin America, they also have the power to react politically.
Regardless, my time in Cancun was fun and relaxing but also very enlightening. It has also provided the opportunity to more accurately situate Mexico within current events. As we have covered in other essays, the U.S. has always had an unstable relationship with much of Latin America. What makes the recent disturbance with Venezuela so interesting, is how it engages the relationships between the other Latin American countries we have examined. All of them have been either directly or indirectly influenced by this event.
What are your thoughts on the interconnectedness of Colombia, Cuba, and Mexico? Would these countries have a more harmonious relationship without narcotrafficking? Or are cultural differences too big of a barrier? Did the Mexican-American War set a precedent for the tension at the border? Or do the cultural, economic, and political factors create the condition for conflict?
References
“Mexican-American War | Significance, Battles, Results, Timeline, & Facts.” 2026. Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/event/Mexican-American-War.
Britannica Editors. “Zimmermann Telegram.” Encyclopedia Britannica, April 1, 2026. https://www.britannica.com/event/Zimmermann-Telegram.