Lebanon–Mexico relations

Lebanon-Mexico relations

Lebanon
Mexico

Lebanon-Mexico relations refers to the diplomatic relations between Lebanon and Mexico. Both nations enjoy friendly relations, the importance of which centers on the history of Lebanese immigration to Mexico. Both nations are members of the Group of 24 and the United Nations.

History

Embassy of Lebanon in Mexico City

Relations between Mexico and Lebanon stretch further before their official establishment of diplomatic relations. Beginning in 1878, several thousand Lebanese migrants (primarily Christian Maronites) left their homes, which at the time was under Ottoman occupation and later followed by French colonization; and immigrated to Mexico.[1] Today, over 500,000 people in Mexico are of Lebanese origin ranking Mexico the fourth biggest country hosting a Lebanese community outside of Lebanon.[2]

After gaining independence from France in 1943; Lebanon and Mexico established diplomatic relations on 12 June 1945. In 1947, diplomatic missions were established in each countries capitals respectively, and ambassadors were appointed.[3] In 1975, Lebanon experienced a civil war and for security reasons, the embassy of Mexico in Beirut closed in June 1982 to only re-open in 1996.[4] Since then, Mexico has maintained an embassy in Lebanon throughout the various violent outbreaks in Lebanon and during Israeli attacks in the country.[3]

In June 2000, Mexican Foreign Minister Rosario Green became the highest ranking Mexican official to visit Lebanon. In Lebanon, Foreign Minister Green met with Lebanese President Émile Lahoud.[5] In September 2010, Lebanese President Michel Sleiman became the first Lebanese head-of-state to pay an official visit to Mexico meeting with Mexican President Felipe Calderón.[6]

In February 2015, Lebanese Foreign Minister Gebran Bassil came to Mexico to discuss the festivities for celebrating the 70th year anniversary of diplomatic relations between both nations. In May 2015, Mexican Foreign Minister José Antonio Meade paid an official visit to Lebanon.[7] Since September 2015, Mexico has military experts and a soldier assigned to the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon, based in the south of Lebanon and currently maintains 30 personnel in the country.[8][9] In November 2015, the Patriarch of the Maronite Church, Bechara Boutros al-Rahi paid a visit to Mexico and met with Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto.[10] Both nations celebrated 70 years of diplomatic relations in 2015.

High-level visits

Presidential and Foreign Ministerial visits from Lebanon to Mexico[11]

Foreign Ministerial visits from Mexico to Lebanon

Bilateral relations

Both nations have signed several bilateral agreements such as a Memorandum of Understanding and Cooperation between the Mexican Secretariat of Foreign Affairs and the Lebanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs (2000); Agreement of Scientific and Technical Cooperation (2000); Agreement of Educational and Cultural Cooperation (2000) and a Memorandum of Understanding and Cooperation between the Mexican Secretariat for Tourism and the Lebanese Ministry of Tourism (2008).[3]

Trade relations

In 2017, total trade between both nations amounted to $31.3 million USD.[12] Lebanon is Mexico's 111th largest trading partner globally and 12th in the Middle-East. Between 2013 - 2017, Lebanese companies invested $110 million USD in Mexico, mainly in the agricultural and manufacturing industries. In 2015, both nations discussed the possibility of creating a free trade agreement.[13]

Resident diplomatic missions

See also

References

  1. ↑ Emigrante Libanés (in Spanish)
  2. ↑ Mexican Ministry of the Economy on Lebanon (in Spanish)
  3. 1 2 3 Bilateral relations between Mexico and Lebanon (in Spanish)
  4. ↑ Medio Oriente. Una ventana de oportunidad para México (in Spanish)
  5. ↑ Cronología de Política Exterior de México (in Spanish)
  6. ↑ México y Líbano fortalecen lazos comerciales (in Spanish)
  7. ↑ México y Líbano apuntan a lo más alto en sus relaciones (in Spanish)
  8. ↑ "Troop and police contributors. United Nations Peacekeeping – United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon". un.org. Retrieved 2017-10-22.
  9. ↑ Mexico to join U.N. peacekeeping operation in Lebanon
  10. ↑ Peña Nieto se reúne com Patriarca Maronita (in Spanish)
  11. ↑ México estrecha lazos con la República Libanesa (in Spanish)
  12. ↑ Mexican Ministry of the Economy: Lebanon (in Spanish)
  13. ↑ El Líbano busca TLC con México (in Spanish)
  14. ↑ Embassy of Lebanon in Mexico City (in Arabic and Spanish)
  15. ↑ Embassy of Mexico in Beirut (in Spanish)
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