In efforts to strengthen the ties Washington shares with Mexico and Central America, President Barack Obama will travel to Mexico and Costa Rica from May 2-4. The White House announced the President’s trip, stating that the tour represents an “important opportunity to reinforce the deep cultural, familial, and economic ties that so many Americans share with Mexico and Central America.”
While in Mexico, President Barack Obama plans to meet with Mexican President, Enrique Peña Nieto, to discuss “ways to deepen our economic and commercial partnership and further our engagement on the broad array of bilateral, regional, and global issues,” the communiqué stated.
Mexico’s foreign ministry stated that a wide range of issues would be discussed.”The agenda between both countries is broad and directly affects both societies,” the statement said. “During the visit, competitiveness, education and innovation will be addressed, as well as border infrastructure, trade, immigration and citizen security, among other issues of shared interest.”
In Costa Rica, Obama is scheduled to meet with President Laura Chinchilla, as well as heads of state of other Central American countries and the Dominican Republic.”The trip will be an important chance to discuss our collective efforts to promote economic growth and development in Central America and our ongoing collaboration on citizen security,” the White House said.
This will be the first visit to Costa Rica by a sitting U.S. president since Bill Clinton’s visit in 1997.