The Mexican delegation met twice today with the U.S. Department of State in Washington, D.C. At the meetings, Foreign Secretary Marcelo Ebrard and Ambassador Martha Bárcena, who were accompanied by a team of technical experts, advanced the dialogue, in which both parties presented their points of view. Among the points discussed, the delegation explained the operation of Mexico's National Guard, saying its priority will be southeastern Mexico, with 6,000 guard members deployed in the region.
The Secretary of Agriculture and Rural Development, Víctor Manuel Villalobos, returned to Mexico yesterday, and Economy Secretary Graciela Márquez Colín returned today. The negotiations, which require several sessions to discuss the details of a complex binational agenda, will continue tomorrow morning.