FILE - Then Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean Executive Secretary Alicia Barcena speaks during an opening ceremony at Los Pinos presidential residence in Mexico City, May 24, 2016. President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador announced on Tuesday, June 13, 2023, that he has appointed Barcena as the new foreign relations secretary, replacing Marcelo Ebrard, who resigned to run for the ruling party's presidential candidacy. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell, File)

Mexican president picks veteran diplomat to be next foreign minister

MEXICO CITY (AP) — Mexico’s president on Tuesday named Alicia Bárcena, the country’s current ambassador to Chile, as the next foreign relations secretary, replacing Marcelo Ebrard who resigned to pursue the presidential nomination.

President Andrés Manuel López Obrador noted the solid background of the Harvard-educated Bárcena, who served for almost 14 years as executive secretary of the United Nations’ Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean. She has been Mexico’s ambassador to Chile since September.

López Obrador said it would be at least 10 days before Bárcena takes over the new role.

Ebrard on Monday resigned his post as the country’s top diplomat to join the primary race for the presidential nomination of López Obrador’s Morena party in the June 2024 elections.

Ebrard is mainly known for leading Mexico’s effort to bring gun-trafficking lawsuits against U.S. arms manufacturers and gun stores.

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