Mexico and Brazil deepen cooperation as US tensions rise

On Thursday, Mexico's foreign secretary Roberto Velasco traveled to Brasília to co-chair the sixth meeting of the Mexico-Brazil Binational Commission with Brazilian counterpart Mauro Vieira, the primary platform for political dialogue and cooperation between the two nations. In a separate encounter, Lula and Velasco, representing President-elect Claudia Sheinbaum, discussed the state of democracy in Latin America, with Lula renewing an invitation for Sheinbaum to visit Brazil.

The dialogue occurs as Lula, amid a visa clash with Donald Trump and a looming re-election, looks to Mexico for support after progressive defeats in Chile and Colombia. Energy collaboration deepened when Petrobras and Pemex signed an agreement to explore oil in the Gulf of Mexico. Trade between Mexico and Brazil is projected to reach $13.9 billion by 2025, and both governments view the partnership as a safeguard against US-driven tariffs and right-wing pressure. Their coordination reflects a broader strategy by the region's remaining progressive leaders to preserve sovereignty and counter external interference.