Oct. 1 (UPI) -- Claudia Sheinbaum marks her first year as Mexico's president Wednesday with approval ratings near 70%, according to recent polls. Job creation, social programs, rising foreign investment and her pragmatic approach to relations with President Donald Trump have fueled her success.
Still, a fiscal deficit has slowed the economy, and insecurity among the population remains the main challenge of her administration.
Sheinbaum has been recognized for her firm stance in tough negotiations with Trump on tariffs, drug trafficking and migration. She has said her strategy in those talks has been "a cool head and no confrontation."
That approach won her a pause on tariffs, which Sheinbaum touted as treatment different from that given to other countries, and more recently led to a landmark agreement with the U.S. government to curb illegal arms trafficking.
"As Trump has turned against his trade partners, President Sheinbaum has been able to argue that she is defending Mexico's sovereignty and economic stability, and that has worked in her favor," said Javier Aparicio, a professor at CIDE Mexico, in an interview with NTN24.
