News
Tánaiste visits Mexico and Colombia
From Department of Foreign Affairs
Published on
Last updated on
From Department of Foreign Affairs
Published on
Last updated on
Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and for Defence Micheál Martin carried out a five-day visit to Mexico and Colombia from 7-12 January. The visit took place in the context of the government’s Global Ireland Strategy for Latin America and the Caribbean, which launched in February 2022, and is delivering enhanced engagement with the region across its five key objectives.
The programme in Mexico included a productive meeting with Mexican Foreign Minister, Alicia Bárcena, in which discussions centred on bilateral and multilateral relations.
In addition, the Tánaiste had the opportunity to meet with various Irish companies with large investments in Mexico, including Smurfit Kappa, Kerry Group and ICON, as well as with Mexican companies that have invested in Ireland. Mexico is Ireland’s largest trading partner in Latin America, with two-way trade in goods and services approaching €5 billion.
Reflecting longstanding historical and diaspora links, together with members of the Irish community in Mexico City, the Tánaiste participated in a ceremony to honour the Saint Patrick’s Battalion (Batallón de San Patricio), a group of predominantly Irish soldiers who fought as part of the Mexican army in the 1840s.
While in Mexico, the Tánaiste also opened the new chancery premises and inaugurated Ireland’s Office for Central America, which has been working to strengthen political, cultural, economic and values-based links with the Central American region since last year.
In Colombia, the Tánaiste met Minister of Defence, Iván Velásquez, and Vice Foreign Ministers Francisco Coy and Elizabeth Taylor, as well as the Chief of Staff of the High Commissioner for Peace. Discussions in all meetings focused on Irish support to Colombia’s 2016 Peace Agreement with the FARC and President Gustavo Petro’s Total Peace policy, bilateral support to which is increasing substantially in 2024. Bilateral relations, climate and multilateral issues were also the subject of discussions.
The Tánaiste also had the opportunity to visit the bust dedicated to Cork-born General Daniel O’Leary, which is located in Bogotá. O’Leary participated in Colombia’s fight for independence and served as the Aide de Camp to Simon Bolivar.