The president of Mexico, Claudia Sheinbaum, assured this Monday that the delivery of water to the United States, as stipulated in the 1944 Water Treaty, will be carried out without compromising human consumption or agricultural activity in Mexican territory.
During her morning conference at the National Palace, the head of state explained that the supply of the water resource is carried out in accordance with the country's actual capabilities and within the limits established by the bilateral agreement.
«We are not giving away water that we do not have or that affects Mexicans,» stated Sheinbaum from the Treasury Hall, and emphasized that Mexico does not deliver more than the treaty stipulates nor does it risk internal supply.
Agreement to extend delivery deadlines
The president revealed that, after a dialogue with U.S. authorities, an agreement was reached to extend the water delivery deadlines, after the United States requested to receive a significant amount before the end of December.
She detailed that Mexico demonstrated that this demand was not viable, due to both physical limitations and the negative consequences it could generate.
«They asked that a certain amount of water be delivered by December, and we said it was not possible. In this context, Mexico agreed to release 249.163 million cubic meters of water to the United States, with deliveries scheduled to begin on December 15th.
This understanding comes in a context of trade tensions, after U.S. President Donald Trump threatened to impose an additional 5% tariff on Mexico for alleged breaches of the water agreement.
«Not only is it not possible, but it would also have consequences if done in such a short time,» explained Sheinbaum.
Sheinbaum also rejected the versions accusing Mexico of violating the treaty and attributed the delays to the drought and lack of rains in the involved basins.
«Depending on the amount of rainfall in the rainy season, it will be seen how to compensate for what was not delivered in the previous five years, as a result of the drought,» she stated.
Last Friday, the Mexican government reiterated its commitment to the 1944 Water Treaty and to binational cooperation in the Rio Grande basin.
