Mexico’s president is defending the participation of a contingent of Russian troopers in a army parade over the weekend
ByThe Related Press
September 18, 2023, 12:31 PM
Mexican Air Drive planes launch smoke trails representing the colours of the Mexican nationwide flag in the course of the Independence Day army parade, in Mexico Metropolis, Saturday, Sept. 16, 2023. (AP Picture/Fernando Llano)
The Related Press
MEXICO CITY — Mexico’s president on Monday defended the participation of a contingent of Russian troopers in a army parade over the weekend.
The presence of the Russian contingent within the Independence parade Saturday drew criticism due to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Mexico has condemned the invasion however has adopted a coverage of neutrality and has refused to take part in sanctions because it continues to purchase 2020-vintage COVID vaccines from Russia.
President Andrés Manuel López Obrador famous {that a} contingent from China additionally participated, and stated that each one the international locations Mexico has diplomatic relations with have been invited.
López Obrador acknowledged the problem turned “a scandal,” however attributed it to his ongoing spat with the information media, which he believes is in opposition to him.
“The Chinese language have been additionally within the parade, and there wasn’t a lot outcry,” López Obrador stated, noting a Russian contingent had participated up to now, though at occasions when that nation was not actively invading its neighbor.
“All of the international locations that Mexico has diplomatic relations with have been invited,” he stated.
Nonetheless, Ukraine’s Ambassador to Mexico, Oksana Dramaretska, wrote in her social media accounts that “The civic-military parade in Mexico Metropolis was stained by the participation of a Russian regiment; the boots and arms of those conflict criminals are stained with blood.”
Some members of López Obrador’s Morena celebration have publicly expressed affection for Russia even after the invasion, and López Obrador has regularly criticized america for sending arms to Ukraine.
López Obrador’s administration has continued to purchase Russia’s Sputnik COVID vaccine and intends to make use of it as a booster shot later this yr, together with Cuba’s Abdala vaccine.
Specialists have questioned using these vaccines, together with Mexico’s personal Patria vaccine, as a booster for brand spanking new variants, as a result of all of them have been designed in 2020 to fight variants circulating on the time.
