Well I didn't want too much time to go back, checked in with you all. We had a very productive morning of with President Lopez Obrador. He and I spent a significant amount of time together one on one, and very
directed candid conversations as well as a very productive bilateral meeting, and the Topics ranged from, especially in the bilateral meeting what we need to do around are interested in security,
vaccines, and the pandemic of what we need to do on the issue of migration, and the relationship that Mexico in the United States have terms of our mutual interest in economic strength and security. It was, I believe, a very important conversation to have. At this level, where we made clear that the United States considers Mexico to be a partner on many of these issues. And, as evidenced by the MLU that we signed today between the United States and Mexico to combine our resources targeted at Central America and in particular the countries of El Salvador, Honduras, and Guatemala. There is work we are also doing together that relates to our shared interest and concern about smuggling in particular human trafficking an issue I've worked on for a long time, we have a shared interest in what is happening in terms of narcotics and the trafficking of narcotics, we spoke about that, in many ways, including specifically about our shared concern about fentanyl. Entering the entering Mexico through its ports, and then arriving in the United States. We had a very productive conversation about specific issues related to that, including Mexico's recent enhanced port security initiatives, so there was a lot to discuss a lot of details. Allie my orcas Secretary I leave my office will be here next week. To follow up on the conversations we've had today. And I think that there is no question that the country of Mexico and the United States, understand that we share a border. We have familial relationships. We have shared history. And if we are going to be successful with the issues that not only challenge us, but that creates opportunities within North America. This relationship is an important one and we work at it to make sure that we continue to stay in touch. What concrete commitments, did you get on border security and also with regards to a border visit domestically, at least it is overtaking your trip. Are you at all concerned that people are getting the message about root causes. I thank you for that question. Yeah, no I think I think you're right, check to post the question I think it's a great question to ask. In terms of border security, the work that we are doing together includes the work of processing migration within the country of Mexico and, and, in its southern border and then of course in Guatemala, which is part of the conversation we had yesterday, There is the work that we are doing around. Mutual Aid around reinforcement of security issues, particularly as it relates to our concern about human trafficking and things of that nature. But look, here's the bottom line. We have, and it is a legitimate correct conversation and concern, which is to address what is happening at our America's southern border, and no question about that. We cannot have that question and had that conversation without also giving equal weight and attention to what is causing that to occur. And so, the work that we are doing by being in Guatemala yesterday and in Mexico today is the work of reinforcing the point that we have to look at not only what is actually happening at the border, but what is causing that to happen. And so that is about one having direct conversations with heads of state, the president of Guatemala and the president of Mexico which I've had now in the last 24 hours, to have a one on one conversation to eyeball each other and to say, look, Let's speak honestly. Let's speak candidly about the interconnection, the interdependency. And also the responsibilities that each of us have to address these issues, but you can't say you care about the border without caring about the root causes, without caring about the acute causes, which include the fact that you're looking at populations, particularly from Central America who are plagued by hunger and and the devastation caused by the hurricanes and of course, the effect of the pandemic. So let's, let's approach this in a way that acknowledges there are many factors. And as with any intractable issue.
We cannot be simplistic and assume that there is only one element or way of approaching the overall problem if this were easy, it would have been handled long time ago, and there is no question that it is complex. In fact, and that we have to navigate the complexities of it with a goal of solving it, it'll be very issue to just say we'll travel to one place and therefore itself. I don't think anybody thinks that that would be the solution. You have to
see both the both the front end and the back end and why not go to the border as well, so they could you see the full complexity. I've been to the border before I will go again. But when I'm in Guatemala, dealing with root causes, I think we should have a conversation about what's going on in Guatemala. Thank you, Paul. We're gonna set up an event. Thank you.
