After Rocky Start, Biden builds relationship with Mexican President López Obrador

The US president's warm gestures helped cement a critical relationship with a Mexican leader whose cooperation on migration, climate change and human trafficking drugs are crucial.

MEXICO CITY – Only about two years ago, Mexico's leader didn't even acknowledge President Biden's election victory. But on Monday, the pair stood side by side at Mexico's National Palace, locked in a group embrace with their wives.

Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador , later called his American counterpart a "visionary president", saying that "there would be no other leader" capable of unifying the western hemisphere.

It was a remarkable turning point in a dire relationship that started on rocky ground but changed in part because Mr. Biden invested heavily in personal diplomacy with the Mexican head of state — and Mr. López Obrador has realized how beneficial it is to be on good terms with the United States.

Significant challenges remain pressing on both sides of the border, and the two countries are not always aligned on how to contain an extraordinary movement of people across the Americas , curb the surge in the fentanyl trade or fight climate change.

The meeting between Mr. Biden, Mr. López Obrador and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau of Canada, known as the North American Leaders' Summit, ended Tuesday without delivering much in terms of new policies. And it's unclear whether any of the warm gestures displayed at the summit will translate into longer-lasting cooperation on these contentious issues.

At a conference Tuesday evening, Mr. López Obrador stressed the importance of getting out of "hegemonic interventionism", saying that the three countries must treat each other "as good neighbours, economic allies and friends".

Energy remains a sticking point, as the United States and Canada have accused Mexico of breaching a free trade agreement with policies that strengthen an electric utility against international companies.

But the rally sent a clear message: years after former President Donald J. Trump at best neglected - and at worst undermined - partnerships in North America, the United States is back on better terms with some of its closest allies.

A crucial part of the summit, said Marcelo Ebrard, Mexico's foreign minister, deepened the "personal relationship" between the leaders.

ImageThe two presidents had a group hug with their wives on Monday. Credit...Doug Mills/The New York Times

Senior Biden administration officials have acknowledged that the relationship between the two leaders is key to ensuring more collaboration thorough investigation by the Mexican government to stem the historic flow of people arriving at the US border.

"I am grateful to have you both as partners - and, might I add, as friends - as we work together to achieve a shared vision for the 'North America,' Mr Biden told his Canadian and Mexican counterparts at Tuesday's press conference.

Mr. Biden has focused on building personal ties with the Mexican leader, said a senior State Department official not authorized to speak publicly. The official noted that the US president had chosen Mexico as his first trip to any country in the Western Hemisphere and that the two leaders spoke regularly on the phone.

The friendly exchange...