ABSTRACT
The regional negotiations process has been analyzed within the context of the Mexico-Central America-United States triangle. Mexican President Jose Lopez Portillo's active role in ensuring the Sandinista victory reflected Mexico's view at that time that stability in Central America was impossible without conditions conducive to sociopolitical change. In fact, the intimate geographical proximity of Mexico and Central America involves Mexican territory directly in terms of social problems and the armed conflict in the area, which fuels United S. pressure to ensure that events in the strategic area favor Washington's interests. According to Volio, by refusing to attend the Enders Forum, Mexico was already manifesting hostility toward Costa Rica—hostility that would later be evident in the formation of the Contadora Group without Costa Rica. In economic terms, Mexico is rapidly progressing toward a free trade agreement with the United States.
