Mexico's foreign minister leaves post for health reasons

By Natalia Siniawski and Diego Oré

MEXICO CITY, April 1 (Reuters) - Mexican Foreign Minister Juan Ramon de la Fuente will leave his post due to health reasons and be replaced by Roberto Velasco, President Claudia Sheinbaum said on Wednesday.

Roberto Velasco, the current undersecretary for North America, has been nominated by Sheinbaum to lead the Foreign Ministry. The Senate must now ratify or reject the nomination.

The leadership change comes at a pivotal moment for regional trade. The three member nations of the USMCA — Mexico, the United States, and Canada — are conducting a joint review of the trade pact this year.

Originally negotiated during the first Trump administration to replace NAFTA in 2020, the agreement serves as a foundation of the Mexican economy.

"Juan Ramon has asked me to leave the Foreign Ministry for health reasons," Sheinbaum said in a video posted on X, appearing alongside De la Fuente and Velasco.

De la Fuente previously took medical leave for surgery last November and now requested more time for rehabilitation, the president added.

Velasco has managed diplomatic relations with the United States and Canada since June 2020, serving first as the head of the North American unit before becoming undersecretary.

Velasco said that, if confirmed by the Senate, he would continue "defending Mexico's sovereignty" and "protecting Mexicans throughout the world" while maintaining strategic cooperation with North and Latin American partners.