Mexico appoints Roberto Velasco as new foreign minister at critical moment for US relations
Mexico City –
– Mexico City (AP) – The Mexican president on Wednesday named Roberto Velasco, the State Department’s deputy secretary for North America and a leading expert on bilateral relations with the US, as the country’s new foreign minister during a critical time for Mexico-US relations.
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum requested the resignation of the previous minister, Juan Ramón de la Fuente, a 74-year-old psychiatrist and prominent member of her administration, for health reasons, the President’s Office announced on the social platform X on Wednesday.
Velasco, a 38-year-old lawyer with a master’s degree in public policy from the University of Chicago, has been involved in Mexico’s foreign relations with the US and Canada for six years, first as general director for North America and then as deputy secretary. After a surgery last year, he stepped into De La Fuente for a few weeks. His appointment must be approved by the Senate.
He was considered one of the leading experts on the technical intricacies of bilateral relations at the end of the first administration of US President Donald Trump and this second term. He has led numerous bilateral and trilateral negotiations on security, migration, economics, borders, and the management of shared waters.
When Trump returned to power, Velasco became de la Fuente’s right-hand man during a period of turbulent relations between the two countries, now one of his most important points. The young officer’s political strength in such difficult times remains uncertain.
Velasco will be responsible for leading Mexican diplomacy as negotiations to revise the US-Mexico-Canada Free Trade Agreement and Trump continue. Pressure in the fight against cartels comes at a time when the US president has shown a willingness to start military operations against those he considers enemies, including Mexico and ally Cuba.
Previously, Velasco served as spokesperson for current economy secretary Marcelo Ebrard when Ebrard was Mexico’s foreign minister during the first part of the administration of former Mexican president Andrés Manuel López Obrador.
Outgoing Minister de la Fuente, who served in the post since October 2024, was known for his discretion and negotiation skills. He remained with Sheinbaum during the transition period, receiving envoys from then-US President Joe Biden and was responsible for preparing the entire US consular network for deportations announced by Trump.
When Republicans returned to the White House in January 2025, de la Fuente became a key figure in negotiations with his administration, always maintaining a low profile and joining Sheinbaum fully in exercising caution in the face of Trump’s impulsive social media posts. In September, he hosted US Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Mexico City.
Former Mexican Ambassador to the US Arturo Sarukhan said, “The reshuffle in the Foreign Ministry was long overdue,” but he did not want to comment about Velasco and wished him all the best.
