Mexico Appoints New Ambassador to Belize in Regional Diplomatic Shift to Strengthen Ties

Mexico has named a new ambassador to Belize as part of a broader diplomatic reshuffle aimed at strengthening ties with Central American neighbours.  President Claudia Sheinbaum has appointed career diplomat Ana Luisa Vallejo as Mexico’s ambassador to Belize, while Luz Elena Baños will serve as ambassador to Guatemala. The appointments were announced by Mexico’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and approved by the country’s Senate committees on Foreign Relations and Latin America and the Caribbean.  According to Mexican authorities, the move is intended to deepen regional cooperation on trade, security, environmental protection and border development.  In Belize’s case, the new ambassador is expected to focus on improving cross-border development initiatives and facilitating trade and mobility along the Quintana Roo frontier. Cooperation on security matters, civil protection, and cultural and educational exchanges will also form part of the diplomatic agenda.  Both ambassadors are career foreign service officers, and Mexican officials say the appointments reflect the growing role of women within the country’s diplomatic corps.  The new postings come at a time when Mexico is seeking closer regional integration along its southern border, particularly with neighbouring Belize and Guatemala.