The US government unveiled on Tuesday (US time) its new embassy in Mexico worth more than a billion dollars, which should have been ready two years ago, the Associated Press reported, quoted by BTA.
The outgoing US ambassador to Mexico, Ken Salazar, said that the largest embassy the US has in the world “underlines the exceptional relationship between our peoples and countries“.
The government broke ground on the new embassy in February 2018. The US will leave its current building on the grand boulevard “Paseo de la Reforma“ in the Mexican capital, which has been a regular site for marches and protests over the years.
The new embassy is located on a former industrial site that required extensive cleanup of toxic substances. The area, known as Novo Polanco, includes modern museums and other prestigious projects developed by Carlos Slim, one of the world's richest men.
The new building, however, has not yet opened to the public. It is likely to do so later next year as work continues.
The dedication comes just before President-elect Donald Trump returns to the White House next month. He has promised mass deportations and threatened Mexico with devastating tariffs if it does not do more to control immigration and drug trafficking.
Trump has nominated Ron Johnson to be the next ambassador to Mexico. Johnson was the US ambassador to El Salvador during Trump's first term, the AP recalls.