WASHINGTON-When President Barack Obama visited Mexico in April, the now global epidemic of swine influenza - unbeknownst to the White House - he had just started and help Obama returned sick.
What could have become a diplomatic Downer, however, ultimately transformed into a bright point.
Obama was never in danger, help and his family recovered, and the two countries cooperate extensively on the influenza epidemic in the spring and beyond. The United States has won points with his southern neighbor for not joining the country ban, trade and prohibiting the taking of other measures that Mexico considered unfairly punitive.
Now, as Obama returns to Mexico, the swine flu that spread from there throughout the world is increasingly in the news - and the top of the agenda of the lightning-fast, to three-way summit Sunday and Monday.
Obama, Mexican President Felipe Calderon and Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harder will try to rely on co-operation earlier than planned to handle the new wave of cases in North America during the next flu season.
John Brennan, Obama's chief security aide, said that the time for negotiations - and crucial, given the long border from the United States with Mexico and Canada. As important as it is to connect health officials and ready supplies of vaccines and antivirals, the three leaders are also at the same time for the public and reinforce the desire not to panic when cases arises, he says.
"Some people will fall ill and die," said Brennan. The maintenance of the seriousness and extent of the disease to a minimum is a priority, but officials "want to make sure we do everything we can to ensure the continuation of trade, transport and trade between the three countries .
America's first and third are the largest trading relationship with Canada and Mexico. All three are partners in North America Free Trade Agreement, the largest free trade area in the world. The closure of borders or restricting travel would be very costly for families and businesses from all sides of the border, an important consideration given the limping economy and the fact that health experts see these actions as unnecessary contain the spread of influenza.
President George W. Bush started the tradition of the Trilateral in 2005 with the first summit was held near his ranch in Texas.
They are usually rather sleepy business - not splashy new little attention. Despite the lofty name of the Summit of North American leaders did not cause critical and is generally more of a progress report on trade integration and security as an action-packed headline-grabber.
Officials say the meetings are vital nonetheless.
Peter DeShazo, a former State Department official for the affairs of the Western Hemisphere, said that Canada and Mexico are vital to the U.S. economy and security, which makes regular conversations at the highest level a must. "These relationships are so complex and multifaceted," said DeShazo, who heads the Americas Program Center for Strategic and International Studies.
Obama said National Security Adviser James Jones: "I think you have problems you wait too long before talking to your neighbors."
The fifth summit of North America is short - a night and barely half the next day, but the list of issues is long.
The United States neighbors want Obama to explain where America's economic recovery is under way because the two countries have seen their wealth decline due to problems in the U.S. Obama will hear complaints from Calderon and Harper on "Buy American" in the requirements of $ 787 billion economic stimulus package.
Climate change is a priority, too.
The three leaders also called upon to take a position on a recent problem in the hemisphere - the coup in June, Honduras, which saw President Manuel Zelaya was overthrown by the military.
Obama planned a meeting late Sunday afternoon with Calderon. He did not schedule another session with Harper during his stay in Mexico, Canada's leader will be President on September 16 in Washington.
The three leaders had dinner together Sunday night at the agenda intentionally open and free. The next day, they have more formal meetings. They appear together in front of journalists before leaving at noon.
Obama meeting with Calderon will continue its road to a new tone in US-Mexican relations.
They have had ups and downs, under Bush, pushed by a fracture during the war in Iraq, the U.S. build a border and the failure of Bush to produce immigration review .
Like Bush, Obama insisted on strengthening border security. He however promised to renew efforts for immigration review, including a path to citizenship for illegal immigrants.
During his visit in April, Obama made a welcome recognition for the Mexicans that Americans share responsibility for violence in the south of the border due to drug consumption and trafficking of firearms. Since then, the United States has made an effort to stop the flow of guns south and money.
Drug violence has killed more than 11,000 people since Mexico has launched a national crackdown in 2006. But U.S. $ 100 million payment to help the fight against drugs in Mexico, is being held in more concern in Congress about the abuses committed by the military.
What could have become a diplomatic Downer, however, ultimately transformed into a bright point.
Obama was never in danger, help and his family recovered, and the two countries cooperate extensively on the influenza epidemic in the spring and beyond. The United States has won points with his southern neighbor for not joining the country ban, trade and prohibiting the taking of other measures that Mexico considered unfairly punitive.
Now, as Obama returns to Mexico, the swine flu that spread from there throughout the world is increasingly in the news - and the top of the agenda of the lightning-fast, to three-way summit Sunday and Monday.
Obama, Mexican President Felipe Calderon and Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harder will try to rely on co-operation earlier than planned to handle the new wave of cases in North America during the next flu season.
John Brennan, Obama's chief security aide, said that the time for negotiations - and crucial, given the long border from the United States with Mexico and Canada. As important as it is to connect health officials and ready supplies of vaccines and antivirals, the three leaders are also at the same time for the public and reinforce the desire not to panic when cases arises, he says.
"Some people will fall ill and die," said Brennan. The maintenance of the seriousness and extent of the disease to a minimum is a priority, but officials "want to make sure we do everything we can to ensure the continuation of trade, transport and trade between the three countries .
America's first and third are the largest trading relationship with Canada and Mexico. All three are partners in North America Free Trade Agreement, the largest free trade area in the world. The closure of borders or restricting travel would be very costly for families and businesses from all sides of the border, an important consideration given the limping economy and the fact that health experts see these actions as unnecessary contain the spread of influenza.
President George W. Bush started the tradition of the Trilateral in 2005 with the first summit was held near his ranch in Texas.
They are usually rather sleepy business - not splashy new little attention. Despite the lofty name of the Summit of North American leaders did not cause critical and is generally more of a progress report on trade integration and security as an action-packed headline-grabber.
Officials say the meetings are vital nonetheless.
Peter DeShazo, a former State Department official for the affairs of the Western Hemisphere, said that Canada and Mexico are vital to the U.S. economy and security, which makes regular conversations at the highest level a must. "These relationships are so complex and multifaceted," said DeShazo, who heads the Americas Program Center for Strategic and International Studies.
Obama said National Security Adviser James Jones: "I think you have problems you wait too long before talking to your neighbors."
The fifth summit of North America is short - a night and barely half the next day, but the list of issues is long.
The United States neighbors want Obama to explain where America's economic recovery is under way because the two countries have seen their wealth decline due to problems in the U.S. Obama will hear complaints from Calderon and Harper on "Buy American" in the requirements of $ 787 billion economic stimulus package.
Climate change is a priority, too.
The three leaders also called upon to take a position on a recent problem in the hemisphere - the coup in June, Honduras, which saw President Manuel Zelaya was overthrown by the military.
Obama planned a meeting late Sunday afternoon with Calderon. He did not schedule another session with Harper during his stay in Mexico, Canada's leader will be President on September 16 in Washington.
The three leaders had dinner together Sunday night at the agenda intentionally open and free. The next day, they have more formal meetings. They appear together in front of journalists before leaving at noon.
Obama meeting with Calderon will continue its road to a new tone in US-Mexican relations.
They have had ups and downs, under Bush, pushed by a fracture during the war in Iraq, the U.S. build a border and the failure of Bush to produce immigration review .
Like Bush, Obama insisted on strengthening border security. He however promised to renew efforts for immigration review, including a path to citizenship for illegal immigrants.
During his visit in April, Obama made a welcome recognition for the Mexicans that Americans share responsibility for violence in the south of the border due to drug consumption and trafficking of firearms. Since then, the United States has made an effort to stop the flow of guns south and money.
Drug violence has killed more than 11,000 people since Mexico has launched a national crackdown in 2006. But U.S. $ 100 million payment to help the fight against drugs in Mexico, is being held in more concern in Congress about the abuses committed by the military.
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