Mexico names new ambassador to U.S.

Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto has named Geronimo Gutierrez Fernandez, a diplomat with knowledge of free trade agreement with the United States, as the country's new ambassador to Washington, the foreign ministry said on Friday.

Gutierrez Fernandez's appointment is to be confirmed by Mexico's Senate.

U.S. President-elect Donald Trump, who takes office on Jan. 20, has called for a renegotiation of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), and building a wall along the Mexico-U.S. border to stop migration.

Gutierrez currently serves as managing director of the San Antonio, Texas-based North American Development Bank, an entity that was created as part of NAFTA.

Gutierrez "has served as a public official in the past four federal governments, holding leading positions in the areas of trade, finance and foreign relations, as well as the interior and national security," the ministry said in a statement.

The daily Milenio noted Gutierrez would be the fourth ambassador to the United States in as many years.

Current ambassador Carlos Manuel Sada Solana will become deputy foreign affairs minister for North America.

Mexico's newly-named Foreign Minister Luis Videgaray issued a statement acknowledging Gutierrez's suitability for the job, saying he was instrumental in negotiating the Merida Initiative, a bilateral cooperation agreement to fight drug trafficking and organized crime.

Referring to the extent of changes expected under Trump, Videgaray said "at no time has there been such intense activity in North America (on the part of the ministry) as in recent months."

Sada Solana, who remains ambassador until Jan. 23, will attend Trump's inauguration ceremony. Endit