While America focuses on Iraq and Afghanistan, this weekend’s flu outbreak highlights that events in Mexico may be the more important and enduring determinant in US national security over the longer term.
We have repeatedly put forth that it is a country’s geography – physical, human and economic – that determines its security risks, priorities, allies and enemies. Iraq will fade away over time, but the Mexican border won’t. The movement backwards and forwards of Mexicans and Americans across this shared frontier ensures linkages at a human level too. And with NAFTA, Mexico has become one of America’s biggest trading partners ensuring enormous ties at the economic level.
The outbreak of Mexican swine flu is a global problem. But have no doubt that the country most at risk is the United States. Our common border ensures it. To deny this geography is dangerous.
The US, therefore, has a fundamental security interest in seeing the success of Mexico. It is in America’s vital interest that Mexico develops its economy, civic institutions and justice system. It is an American security priority that Mexico not just deal with its drug violence but also deal with the enormous economic gap between its European elite and indigenous masses. A Mexico that cannot provide opportunities for all of its citizens will prevent it from reaching its true potential as one of the world’s great nations, and a source of US economic growth for decades. It will also ensure unchecked illegal immigration and untold human suffering.
If the Mexican swine virus shows us anything, it reminds us that what happens over there matters over here.
www.dailyexception.com
Twitter: dailyexception
