AUSTIN, Texas — The governors of Texas and the Mexican state of Coahuila are pledging to help each other continue growing economically.
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott and Coahuila Gov. Manolo Jiménez Salinas each signed a statement of mutual cooperation Monday afternoon at the Governor’s Mansion in Austin.
Coahuila is one of four Mexican states that borders Texas. Mexico is the Lone Star State’s largest trading partner.
“I think we are ready to take the relationship between Texas and Coahuila to the next level,” Jiménez Salinas said.
The signing marked the 200th anniversary of the 1824 creation of Coahuila y Tejas, a Mexican state that included Texas and Coahuila before the Lone Star State gained independence in 1836.
“What we are about to sign codifies our mutual agreement to strengthen the economies and job growth of our two states through the power of economic collaboration,” Abbott said.
Abbott said the deal builds on a prior border security deal between Texas and Coahuila from 2022.
Jiménez Salinas pledged Monday to also focus on migration, tourism and culture.
KVUE planned to ask Abbott about the specific benefits Texans could see from this deal. However, he did not take questions from reporters.
“In many ways, these are the state level equivalents of treaties between countries,” said Mark Jones, a political science professor at Rice University.
However, unlike a formal treaty, Jones said these agreements are nonbinding.
“Effectively, each side agrees to work with the other on topics of mutual interest,” Jones said. “In this case, the economy, tourism, border security and immigration.”
Jones said while he believes the 200th anniversary of Coahuila y Tejas is the main reason for the timing of Monday’s signing, he also believes there’s a political component.
“With these agreements, the Mexican states agree to work with and help Texas try to manage border security and migration, which is especially important, especially in Coahuila, with Piedras Negras being across from Eagle Pass," Jones said.
Jones noted that Abbott has previously signed agreements with the three other Mexican states bordering Texas: Nuevo Leon, Tamaulipas and Chihuahua.
Jiménez Salinas said Coahuila’s government is opening an office in Austin. He also plans to attend meetings in San Antonio, Dallas and Houston.