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‘One of Moscow’s Key Priorities’

As U.S. officials pressed Mexico to act on spies, they also struggled to secure cooperation on the world stage, despite the country being a major ally on security and trade.

Mexico initially voted at the United Nations to condemn Russia’s invasion, but it has not sent aid to Ukraine or imposed sanctions on Russia. And as the United States tried to isolate Russia, Mexican lawmakers formed a Mexico-Russia “friendship committee” and its president defended a Russian military unit taking part in a Mexican parade in 2023.

Mexico’s current president, Ms. Sheinbaum, has largely held to the country’s longstanding policy of neutrality, in which it preserves relations with countries like Russia and Venezuela despite U.S. pressure.

Under Ms. Sheinbaum, Mexico voted at the United Nations this year to reaffirm Ukraine’s sovereignty. But when the Group of 7 nations later met in Canada, she did not meet Ukraine’s president, according to two people familiar with the matter, and Ukraine’s foreign minister did not speak with Mexico’s at the U.N. General Assembly this fall.

In contrast, Mexico’s top diplomat met with Russia’s foreign minister this summer in Brazil, with the officials expressing warm relations and mutual interests.

Mexico’s tolerance of Russia, American officials say, may reflect the politics of its governing party, Morena, which dominates the federal government. The party includes a wide range of politicians, but at its core are many ardent leftists who are deeply suspicious of the United States over its history of invasions, coups and influence campaigns in Latin America.

Morena officials did not respond to a request for comment.