Germany's President Steinmeier ends Latin America trip in Mexico

German Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier ends his five-day trip through three Latin American countries with a visit to Mexico on Thursday.

At the request of Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum, he is not flying to the capital Mexico City as had been originally planned, but to Cancún on the Yucatán Peninsula.

German sources say the reason given for the change of location was strikes that could paralyse the capital during the visit.

However, Sheinbaum also has another important appointment in Cancún on the same day.

The talks are also likely to focus on the recent wave of violence that swept Mexico following the death of the powerful leader of a drug cartel.

At least 74 people were killed in the unrest in February, which came at a troubling time for the country ahead of the World Cup it is co-hosting with the United States and Canada from June.

Mexico is a strategic partner for Germany and an important economic player in the region.

Many companies, such as the automotive group Volkswagen, have plants in the country. VW says it produced around 336,000 vehicles at its plant in Puebla in 2025.

According to the German-Mexican Chamber of Industry and Commerce, the volume of trade between the two countries last year totalled €25.1 billion ($29 billion) - albeit with a downward trend.