During the Spanish colonization of Mexico, several Spanish Viceroys were of Irish descent, including Juan O'Donojú, who was the last Spanish Viceroy.[2] During the Mexican–American War (1846–1848), many Irish-American immigrants abandoned their posts to join Mexican forces due to their solidarity through shared discrimination, and persecution of their Catholic faith by protestant Americans.[3] One of the most popular Irish battalions during the war was that of the St. Patrick's Battalion, which fought for the Mexican side during both the Battle of Buena Vista and Battle of Churubusco in 1847, among others.[4]
On 10 January 1974, both nations established diplomatic relations.[1] At first, Mexico was accredited to Ireland from its embassy in London, and Ireland was accredited to Mexico from its embassy in Washington, D.C. In 1990, both nations agreed to open resident diplomatic missions and, in June 1991, Mexico opened its embassy on Raglan Road, Dublin; Ireland followed suit, opening its embassy in Mexico City in September 1999.[1]
In January 1994, Taoiseach Albert Reynolds paid a visit to Mexico, becoming the first Irish head-of-State to do so. In 1999, Irish President Mary McAleese also paid a visit to Mexico. In November 2002, Mexican President Vicente Fox paid an official visit to Ireland, becoming the first Mexican leader to do so.[5] There would be several high-level visits between leaders and representatives of both nations. In 2013, President Michael D. Higgins paid a visit to Mexico where he met with President Enrique Peña Nieto.[5]
In October 2022, Mexican Foreign Undersecretary Carmen Moreno Toscano paid a visit to Ireland to attend the VIII political consultation reunion between both nations. During the reunion, both nations agreed on deepening bilateral collaboration on issues such as health, trade and investment promotion, diaspora and international migration.[6] In January 2024, Tánaiste Micheál Martin paid a visit to Mexico and visited the new premises of the Irish Embassy in Mexico City and inaugurated Ireland’s new Office for Central America which is housed in the embassy.[7]
High-level visits
Commemorative plaque placed at the San Jacinto Plaza in Mexico City. It states: "In memory of the Irish soldiers of the heroic St. Patrick's Battalion, martyrs who gave their lives for Mexico during the unjust invasion by the United States of 1847."
Minister of Health Salomón Chertorivski Woldenberg (2012)
Minister of the Economy Idelfonso Guajardo (2014)
Foreign Undersecretary Carlos de Icaza (2017)
Foreign Undersecretary Carmen Moreno Toscano (2022)
Bilateral agreements
Both nations have signed several bilateral agreements such as an Agreement to Avoid Double Taxation and Prevent Tax Evasion regarding Income and Capital Gains Taxes (1998); Agreement on Educational and Cultural Cooperation (1999); Memorandum of Understanding for Cooperation between the Mexican Secretariat of Foreign Affairs and Trinity College Dublin (2003); Memorandum of Understanding for the Establishment of a Mechanism of Consultation in Matters of Mutual Interest (2006); and an Agreement of Cooperation between the cities of Dublin and Mexico City (2015).[8][9]
Drug trafficking
In 2013, Europol claimed that "…Mexican drug cartels are targeting Ireland and mainland Europe for their cocaine and cannabis trade," and that there was "…evidence of Mexican cartels using Ireland as a staging post for bringing drug shipments into Europe."[10]
In February 2024, 546kg of crystal meth worth €32 million was found in a container in the Port of Cork. The Sinaloa cartel were suspected to behind this importation.[12][13] The Gardaí suspected an Irish-Mexican citizen was working with the cartel.[14]
Trade
In 1997, Mexico signed a Free Trade Agreement with the European Union (which includes Ireland). In 2023, two-way trade between both nations amounted to US$3.1 billion.[15] Ireland's main exports to Mexico include: pharmaceutical and health products such as medicines, machines and chemicals; parts for motor vehicles, electronic integrated circuits, dairy based products, and alcohol. Mexico's main exports to Ireland include: data processing machines, medical instruments and appliances, chemical based products, aircraft such as helicopters and airplanes, minerals and alcohol.[15] Irish multinational companies such as Kerry Group and Smurfit Kappa (among others) operate in Mexico.[16]
