MEXICO CITY, April 1 - Mexican Foreign Minister Juan Ramon de la Fuente is reported by local media to be leaving his post for health-related reasons, with Roberto Velasco, who leads the foreign ministry's North America department, cited as his likely successor.
According to the reports, de la Fuente began a period of medical leave last November to undergo surgery. The available coverage does not make clear whether the current leave will become a permanent departure from the ministry. Requests for confirmation were not immediately answered by the foreign ministry.
News of the possible change in leadership arrives at what media outlets describe as a pivotal moment for regional trade. Mexico, together with the United States and Canada, is conducting a joint review of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement - USMCA - during the current year. The trade agreement, which replaced NAFTA in 2020 after negotiations carried out during the first Trump administration, is described in reports as a core element of the Mexican economy.
The reports note the following established facts:
- Juan Ramon de la Fuente has been on medical leave since last November for surgery.
- Roberto Velasco, the foreign ministry's North America department chief, is reported to be set to assume the foreign minister role.
- There has been no immediate confirmation on whether the reported departure will be permanent.
- The foreign ministry did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
- The leadership reports coincide with a joint USMCA review taking place this year.
The reporting stops short of definitive confirmation of personnel changes or of any decisions by the government. The available information is limited to local media accounts and the ministry's lack of an immediate response to inquiries.
Observers following the developments will note the overlap between the reported transition and the trilateral review of USMCA, given the agreement's role in underpinning Mexico's economic framework as described in the reports. At this stage, the public record does not indicate the government's formal position nor provide a timetable for any permanent change in the foreign ministry's leadership.