Some critics have said Obama neglected Latin America during his first term, and lambasted the U.S. president for not bringing up Mexico or other countries in the region during last month's foreign policy debate with Republican challenger Mitt Romney.

On Tuesday, Obama quipped that he was jealous that Vice President Joe Biden would be attending Pena Nieto's inauguration in Mexico on Saturday, and he said he was looking forward to attending the North American Leaders' Summit there next year.

"Any excuse to go to Mexico, I'm always game," Obama said.