100 Years of Kissinger

Published in Entorno Político
(Mexico) on 12 July 2023
by Carlos Tercero (link to originallink to original)
Translated from by Tom Walker. Edited by Laurence Bouvard.
May 27 was the 100th anniversary of the birth of Henry Kissinger, one of the most influential figures in 20th century world politics. Throughout his career, Kissinger was very influential in U.S. national security, domestic policy and diplomacy. Born May 27, 1923, in Germany, Heinz Alfred Kissinger moved to New York in 1938 with his family, fleeing Nazi persecution because of the family’s Jewish roots. During the final years of World War II, he worked in military intelligence. A few years later, he studied political science, graduating from Harvard with honors.

Kissinger served as Secretary of State for presidents Richard Nixon and Gerald Ford from 1969 to 1977. He played a key, though controversial, role in developing the relationship between the U.S. and Mexico, helping to normalize ties between the two countries after the Tlatelolco massacre in 1968 and working to promote economic cooperation and a cordial diplomatic relationship. In 1970, he assisted in the negotiation of the treaty that jump-started the relationship among Mexico, the U.S. and Canada. This treaty contemplated the creation of the North American Development Bank, which is dedicated to granting loans to Mexican and Canadian businesses, and which has continued up to the present day as a bilateral financial institution which strengthened North American Free Trade Agreement negotiations.

His contributions have had a huge impact on Mexico’s domestic and foreign policy. Kissinger was acclaimed for his understanding that no country has a more permanent place in the foreign policy of the U.S. than Mexico. The importance of maintaining a close bilateral relationship, recognizing Mexico’s geopolitical relevance, follows from that. However, his legacy is complex and susceptible to questioning; although he promoted economic growth and stability in Mexico, at the same time he tolerated human rights abuses by the authoritarian government of Mexican President Luis Echeverría Álvarez.*

With that same pragmatic focus, he joined in the development of Mexico’s foreign policy so it could take on a leading role and become a stronger bridge between Latin America and the U.S. In so doing, Mexico adopted a diplomatic posture aimed at promoting peace and stability in Central America.

His involvement was not intended just to benefit Mexico. Understandably, his ultimate goal was to favor and prioritize the gain for his own country while always supporting a commitment to liberal democracy, the market-oriented economy and free trade and respect for the rule of law as a basis for common understanding and the possibility of creating wealth and conditions of well-being for the citizens of both countries.

In the twilight of his life, Kissinger remains a controversial figure because of his track record of intervention (perhaps interventionism) in global politics which, in the case of Mexico, was quite clear in the last third of the 20th century. He transcended this with his pragmatic focus and veiled commitment to dialogue and cooperation, which contributed to the strengthening of the bilateral relationship with the U.S. as well as to the positioning of Mexico as a significant player in the region. Today, with the passage of time, it is possible to reflect on his consistent position that Mexico must think and act from a North American perspective. It must act, that is, as an integral part of the bloc of countries that make up North America, not with a unilateral and isolated national posture, but rather with forward-looking vision and purposes that set aside the romanticism of the Bolivarian dream, counterbalancing the risk that the American dream turns into counterproductive illusion. In this respect, it is the task of those of us in government to conduct ourselves with sovereignty and sensitivity along the route that is best suited for Mexico to achieve its rightful place while recognizing our geopolitical reality.

*Editor's Note: Luis Echeverría Álvarez served as the 57th president of Mexico from 1970 to 1976.


Cien años de Kissinger

Recientemente, llegó a los cien años uno de los personajes más influyentes en la política mundial del siglo XX: Henry Kissinger; quien, a lo largo de su carrera, ejerció amplia autoridad en los temas de seguridad nacional, política interior y diplomacia de los Estados Unidos. Nacido el 27 de mayo de 1923 en Alemania, Heinz Alfred Kissinger, se muda a Nueva York con su familia en 1938 huyendo de la persecución nazi por sus raíces judías. Durante los últimos años de la Segunda Guerra Mundial, desempeñó tareas de inteligencia militar. Unos años más tarde, realizó estudios en ciencias políticas, graduándose con honores de Harvard.

Kissinger despachó como Secretario de Estado con los presidentes Richard Nixon y Gerald Ford de 1969 a 1977, jugando un papel clave, aunque controversial, en la configuración del vínculo entre Estados Unidos y México, ayudando a normalizar las relaciones entre ambas naciones después de la masacre de Tlatelolco en 1968, esforzándose por promover la cooperación económica y una cordial relación diplomática. En 1970, ayudó a negociar el acuerdo que reimpulsó las relaciones entre México, Estados Unidos y Canadá, mismo que consideraba la creación del Banco de Desarrollo de América del Norte (NADBank), destinado a otorgar préstamos a empresas en México y Canadá, el cual continúa hasta nuestros días como institución financiera bilateral que fortalece las negociaciones del Tratado de Libre Comercio de América del Norte.

Sus contribuciones tuvieron impacto tanto en la política interior como exterior de México; Kissinger fue preclaro al entender que ningún país tiene un rol más permanente en la política exterior de los Estados Unidos que México; de ahí la importancia de mantener una estrecha relación bilateral, reconociendo la relevancia geopolítica de nuestro país. Sin embargo, su legado es complejo y proclive al cuestionamiento; pues si bien impulsó el crecimiento económico y la estabilidad en el país, simultáneamente toleró abusos contra los derechos humanos por el gobierno autoritario de Echeverría.

Con ese mismo enfoque pragmático, acompañó a México en la gestión de su política exterior para que alcanzara un papel protagónico y se consolidara como puente entre América Latina y Estados Unidos, y con ello, México adoptara una postura diplomática más activa destinada a promover la paz y la estabilidad en Centroamérica.

Su involucramiento no fue del todo pensando en México, comprensiblemente su fin último era el de favorecer y priorizar el beneficio de su país y, para lo cual, se apoyó siempre en el abanderamiento de un compromiso con la democracia liberal, con la economía orientada al mercado, al libre comercio y el respeto al Estado de derecho, como base para el entendimiento común y la posibilidad de generar riqueza y condiciones de bienestar para los ciudadanos de ambas naciones.

En el ocaso de su vida, Henry Kissinger sigue siendo una figura controversial por su trayectoria de intervención (acaso intervencionismo) en la política mundial que, en el caso de México, se hizo patente en el último tercio del Siglo XX, trascendiendo por su enfoque pragmático y velado compromiso con el diálogo y la cooperación que contribuyeron al fortalecimiento de la relación bilateral con Estados Unidos, así como al posicionamiento de México como actor relevante en la región. Hoy, al paso del tiempo es posible reflexionar respecto a su postura reiterada de que México, debe pensar y actuar desde una perspectiva norteamericana, es decir como integrante del bloque de los países que integran América del Norte, no con una postura nacional unilateral y aislada, sino con una visión y propósitos de largo alcance que hagan de lado el romanticismo del sueño bolivariano, en contrapeso con el riesgo de que el sueño americano, se torne en contraproducente espejismo; y en ello, es tarea del gobierno conducirnos con soberanía y sensatez por la ruta que más convenga a México para alcanzar el lugar que legítimamente le corresponde, sin dejar de reconocer nuestra realidad geopolítica.

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