The Temptation of Friendship: The Latin America Unity Summit
This week Latin American leaders were in Cancun for the Latin America Summit, a major gathering focused on Latin American affairs and featuring the Mexican president seated smack between Raul Castro and Hugo Chavez.
Just before the meeting got under way, Mr. Chavez burst into the room with his left hand held high, shouting "Viva Mexico". Minutes later he approached Mr. Calderon with his arms open wide, singing at the top of his lungs México lindo y querido.
The Venezuelan leader then grabbed his Mexican counterpart by the lapels and smothered him in a friendly bear hug.
Mr. Calderon was all smiles.
At long last, the sister Republics were together - a fraternity of 33 nations representing the largest geographical bloc in the world. And Mr. Calderon, the host, basked in the warmth and flavor that only a gathering of Latins and Caribeans could provide.
Jorge Castaneda, Mexico's former foreign minister, commented that Mr. Calderon was finally in his mero mole.
Gone from memory were the images Mr. Calderon used in his campaign to vilify Mr. Chavez (and win the presidency). Gone was the perennial power dispute between Brazil and Mexico.
For Mexico is first and foremost a Latin nation - a land of hard-working merchants and festive markets; of pre-Hispanic ruins and sunny beaches and warm embraces. Latin America fervently needs Mexico... and Mexico is an historic part of Latin America.
Yet Mexico is also a hybrid, a country whose economic strength is firmly linked to its North American location. Without these links, would it really be thinkable to compare it to Brazil, an immense nation with a homegrown airplane industry and nuclear manufacturing facilities?
"Felipe!" exclaimed Lula da Silva before the two men embraced effusively. Mr. Calderon was ecstatic, swept by the camaraderie of his compatriots.
So when he later stood proudly to announce the formation of a new bloc of Latin and Caribbean nations that would exclude the US and Canada (and include Cuba), most commentators - at least in Mexico - immediately interpreted it as an affront to his NAFTA partners.
Yet images of Mr. Calderon - a conservative churchgoing Mexican - belied this image: he beamed self-confidence and bonhomie. Keep in mind that Mr. Calderon is a "friend" of the US - a stalwart ally in the fight against crime.
What's wrong with this picture? I thought.
Where's Uncle Sam?
Today an article appeared in the NYT that described the gathering as a "diplomatic success". I could only think: "Brilliant!", the official announcement of a new block that excludes the U.S. made in America's backyard by a conservative U.S. ally.
Which means that Mr. Calderon - with the backing of his North American partners - went to Cancun to "snub his nose" at the Anglos.
In sum, he got his cake and ate it too, the perfect combination for a Mexican politician, a true believer in Friendship and Dialogue.
Perhaps for this reason, the Mexican leader felt in his mole: the back slaps, embraces, animated gestures and of course the warm body language that only Latins on a sunny beach could deliver. The "rude guys" from the south - Correa, Chavez, Evo and Ortega - were playing nice, at least for now.
"Today marks the day when Mexico," said Hugo Chavez "this profound, heroic nation, has given re-birth to Bolívar's great dream".
Mr. Calderon smiled broadly, firmly in his element.
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