U.S. President Joe Biden. Photo: Google

PULSE NEWS MEXICO

Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador (AMLO) late last month called on his U.S. counterpart, Joe Biden, to have Air Force 1 arrive not at the Mexico City International Airport (AICM), but rather at his newly opened (and essentially inaccessible and inoperable) Felipe Ángeles International Airport (AIFA) when he comes to Mexico to attend the Monday, Jan. 9, North American Leaders Summit (NALS).

Speaking during his daily press conference at the National Palace on Wednesday, Dec. 28, AMLO appealed to Biden to “follow the example” of Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who López Obrador said has already agreed to use the new terminal for his arrival at the NALS.

López Obrador went on to state that the U.S. Embassy in Mexico “should take note that the new airport is very safe and very good.” (Notwithstanding, AMLO himself has yet to use the new airport, preferring the AICM for his regular flights around the country.)

In addition, AMLO said that the decision by Biden to use the AIFA over the AICM would constitute an act of political solidarity with his government.

“It is already guaranteed that Prime Minister Trudeau is going to get off his plane at the Felipe Ángeles Airport,” López Obrador said.

“So I am recommending that Biden do the same.”

AMLO said that the U.S. decision should be based “not on logistics, but on politics.”

“President Biden may not know this, but I am taking the opportunity to tell him that, out of friendship, out of diplomacy, we ask that his plane land at the Felipe Ángeles Airport,” he said.

There was no immediate response from Washington to López Obrador’s request.