bbmatt to answer your question the mexican version of the Amex Platinum is a jawdropping $1,200USD annual fee with much reduced benefits compared to the US version. It doesn't even waive forex fees for non-peso transactions! There is also a much reduced transfer partner list. Wealthy Mexicans spend YEARS trying to find various loopholes to establish credit in the US and get their hands on US version of Amex / Chase cards. Its not even close. The offerings are so bad that most Mexican blogs in Spanish covering travel hacking focus mainly on how to get US cards and don't even bother talking much about mexican cards. Also of mention is the signup bonuses are basically nothing (20-30k points max).

The Mexican offerings are so bad even the Canadian and Australian offerings look way better. The only card that MIGHT be compelling if I was traveling a lot more would be the Aeromexico platinum card, its also $1,200 dollars but gives you Aeromexico platinum status and by effect Skyteam elite plus (get into skyteam/delta lounges, be able to use skypriority checkin anywhere in the world etc etc).

Either way Amex Mexico would never issue a card to someone without formal employment in Mexico, my permanent residency card without the right to work wouldn't make the cut. In Mexico getting any credit card is a long beurocratic process that would require sending mountains of paperwork, zero chance i'd be approved.

Also you think it's "weird" to have international perks abroad for a travel card? Isn't that the entire point? Chase and the other issuers certainly don't think its weird. Only Amex goes out of their way to say at "US restaurants" Uber "in the US only" etc etc. Seems Amex only wants domestic travelers. I don't think its weird, I think it just caters to different types of people. Chase clearly aims their personal and business cards for frequent world travelers or those that live abroad while Amex seems to focus more on domestic US travelers. Amex has a few centurion lounges spread out outside the US, but its clear they don't put much effort. Amex Centriun access outside the US is about as useless as priority pass inside the US!