Source: TheHill.com

With the fifth round of renegotiations of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) concluded, it’s time to recognize that there’s a lot more at stake than we realize. NAFTA has not only built a close commercial relationship between the United States and Mexico but is also fundamental to a trustworthy strategic partnership. If we fail to recognize this, we will miss the bigger picture and risk U.S. national security. The foundation of strong bilateral cooperation is a robust economic relationship. Trade agreements have been used to establish strong commercial relations, that in turn bind countries together to further U.S. geopolitical aims, in ways unmatched by most other policy tools. Today, Mexico is not only an essential economic partner but also an indispensable security partner. This is all subject to change should NAFTA renegotiations turn sour. Lasting diplomatic relations between countries are built upon trust, skillful negotiating and similar ideological perspectives.