On January 4, 2019, thirteen members of the Lima Group declared that they would not recognize Nicolás Maduro’s new term as president of Venezuela. Mexico did not sign. It was the first time it stayed out of a declaration of the group. Diplomats cited the principle of non-intervention.
The next day, President López Obrador explained: “No queremos tener pleitos con gobiernos extranjeros” (We do not want quarrels with foreign governments).