Foreign policy in both the United States and Mexico is governed by the federal government. However, the state of Texas and its political subdivisions, and Mexico and its government units, find ways to cooperate at the local level to solve local issues.
Key points:
- Foreign policy is the domain of the federal government in the U.S. and Mexico. However, foreign affairs or international relations are not completely out of reach of both countries’ states and their political subdivisions.
- These local-government international relationships, sometimes called paradiplomacy, have increased around the world in the past 50 years.
- Texas and Mexico’s states are no exceptions and, due to historical, cultural, and trade ties, they have increased cooperation to tackle local issues with or without the help of their federal government.
- Areas of cooperation allowed and explored include economic development, cultural and educational exchanges, development of infrastructure, protection of the environment, and public health.