Mexico City — Mexico’s Congress ratified Roberto Lazzeri Montaño as the country’s new ambassador to the United States on Wednesday, replacing Esteban Moctezuma at a critical juncture in bilateral relations.
During his confirmation hearing, Lazzeri said defending national sovereignty would be the central pillar of his diplomatic tenure, particularly amid trade, migration, and security challenges with Washington.
“Of these four principles, I assume the unrestricted respect for sovereignty as my first and main responsibility,” Lazzeri told lawmakers.
He described the US-Mexico relationship as one based on mutual trust, shared responsibility, and respect.
Migration and security progress
Lazzeri highlighted recent results in migration and security cooperation, noting that migrant encounters at the US southern border had dropped 97.5% — from over 305,000 in December 2023 to just over 5,000 in May 2026.
He also praised the “Mexico Embraces You” strategy, under which most repatriated individuals have remained in Mexico with access to comprehensive care programs.
On security, Lazzeri said bilateral cooperation had led to a reduction in homicides, the seizure of thousands of firearms, and the dismantling of clandestine labs used by criminal groups.
Protecting Mexicans in the US
A key commitment of his tenure will be strengthening consular protection for the 11.6 million Mexican-born residents in the United States. He also aims to deepen ties with the Mexican-American community, which numbers about 28.7 million people.
USMCA defense a strategic priority
Lazzeri said the review and modernization of the US-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) would be a top agenda item. He pledged to secure the best possible conditions for Mexico during the review process this year, amid trade tensions and comments from US President Donald Trump about the pact’s future.
He argued that economic and productive commonalities between the two nations outweigh temporary differences, leaving room to strengthen regional integration.
With the ratification, Lazzeri will officially assume Mexico’s diplomatic representation in the US, tasked with leading key political, economic, and trade negotiations. He said his work would align with the goals of the Mexico Plan and focus on protecting national interests amid a complex international landscape shaped by the USMCA review, migration challenges, and security cooperation.
