Mexico City – First Lady Jill Biden will lead the U.S. delegation to Claudia Sheinbaum’s inauguration as Mexico’s first female president on October 1. The White House confirmed Biden’s role but did not specify which officials will accompany her.
The guest list has sparked debate, with Russian President Vladimir Putin invited despite his arrest warrants from the International Criminal Court (ICC) over war crimes in Ukraine. While it is unlikely that Putin will attend, Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky declined his invitation and urged Mexico to arrest Putin if he arrives, according to El Universal.
Sheinbaum emphasized that these invitations follow diplomatic protocol, extended to all countries with which Mexico maintains relations. As Mexico prepares for this historic event, it stands at the forefront of promoting women’s leadership globally. Despite women comprising half the global population, only 25 women currently serve as heads of state, down from 38 in 2023.
Mexico’s gender parity laws have created equal representation in legislative seats, and women are increasingly holding leadership positions across the country. This progress places Mexico among the world’s leaders in women’s political representation, with the country ranked fourth globally for women in legislatures and second in the Women’s Power Index.
As the U.S. presidential race remains undecided, Mexico will soon be the largest nation in the Americas with a female head of state.