Alfonso García Robles, the Mexican who won a Nobel Peace Prize

MÉRIDA.- In 1982 Alfonso García Robles became the first and only (so far) Mexican in win a Nobel Peace Prize.

José Alfonso Eufemio Nicolás de Jesús García Robles He was born in Zamora, Michoacán, on March 20, 1911.

Era Law graduate graduated from the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) and studied postgraduate studies at the Institute of Higher International Studies of the Faculty of Law of the University of Paris. In addition, he also completed a diploma at the Academy of International Law of Haguein 1938.

During his career He held several diplomatic positions: was Secretary of the Embassy of Mexico in Sweden During the year 1939, in 1941 he was appointed deputy director of political affairs of the diplomatic service of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (SRE).

Within his positions he stood out by becoming Director of Political Affairs for the United Nations (UN). There he held several positions and worked for international peace between 1946 and 1957. He later returned to the country to occupy positions in the Mexican government.

Alfonso García Robles, the Mexican who won a Nobel Peace Prize

Alfonso García Robles and his Nobel Peace Prize

In 1962, the United States was in tension with the Soviet Union, due to the detection of nuclear bases in Cuba. This had the world in suspense, which feared the start of a nuclear war.

The conflict escalated so much that at one point Fidel Castrothen president of Cuba, asked the Soviet forces if the United States invaded them, responded to the aggression with a nuclear attack. This regardless of the disappearance of Cuba and the beginning of the much feared nuclear war.

Adolfo López Mateosthen president of Mexico, noticed the behavior of the three nations and, in contempt for nuclear weapons, the Preparatory Commission for the Denuclearization of Latin America was born.

The Treaty of Tlatelolco

This body was headed by Alfonso García Robles, who after four sessions culminated in the Treaty of Tlatelolcoalso known as the Treaty for the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons in Latin America and the Caribbean.

Thanks to this treaty, the associated countries committed to application of nuclear energy for the benefit of humanity. And international nuclear disarmament was promoted.

Due to the positive global impact that the Treaty of Tlatelolco had, in 1982 the Nobel Peace Prize was awarded to its promoter, Alfonso García Roblestogether with the diplomat and Swedish writer Alva Reimer Myrdalwho also participated in said disarmament process.