Leaders of U.S., Canada, Mexico show unity despite friction

President Joe Biden, Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau offered a unified front despite tensions that have put a strain on their relationships

President Joe Biden, Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau sought to downplay their frustrations with one another on migration and trade as they met for the near annual North America Leaders Summit.

The leaders offered a unified front on Tuesday despite tensions that have put a strain on their relationships even as Mr. Biden has made repairing alliances a cornerstone of his foreign policy agenda.

The tensions were front and center when Mr. Biden and López Obrador met on Monday, with the Mexican president complaining of “abandonment” and “disdain” for Latin America.

But as they closed Tuesday's summit in Mexico City with a joint news conference, the leaders offered an optimistic outlook.

“We’re true partners the three of us,” said Mr. Biden, adding that they had "genuine like" for one another. “We share a common vision for the future, grounded on common values."

López Obrador, for his part, thanked Mr. Biden for not building “even one meter of wall,” a not so subtle dig at Mr. Biden's Republican predecessor, Donald Trump. The warmth during their joint press conference stood in stark contrast to the more brusque exchange a day earlier.

Still, López Obrador prodded Mr. Biden to “insist” Congress regularize undocumented Mexican migrants who work in industries where American employers are struggling mightily to find enough workers.