Claudia Sheinbaum, Mexico’s president, took a moment on Tuesday to call out Ron Johnson, the US ambassador, for stepping into Mexican politics as tensions rise between the two nations over drug trafficking issues.
“It’s very important, and I say this with respect, that ambassadors concentrate on coordination and collaboration,” Sheinbaum stated during her routine morning press conference. “Ambassadors need to honor the internal political matters of their countries.”
Her remarks followed a post on X where Johnson suggested that Mexico was politicizing its efforts against drugs after Sheinbaum accused the US of meddling in local affairs.
“Every moment spent turning this shared security challenge into a political dispute is a missed opportunity to strengthen our partnership and protect the people we serve,” Johnson wrote.
The exchange between Johnson and Sheinbaum highlights growing strains between the neighboring countries, which have been escalating for months regarding how to tackle drug trafficking organizations.
Donald Trump has consistently threatened to send troops into Mexico to fight cartels and has also accused Mexican politicians of having an “intolerable alliance” with organized crime.
Throughout this period, Sheinbaum has maintained what she calls a “cool head,” politely turning down Trump’s proposals to send US troops while complying with some demands: deploying thousands of troops at the US border to curb migration, halting oil shipments to Cuba, and sending nearly 100 cartel members for trial in the US.
However, relations began deteriorating in April when it was revealed that several CIA agents participated in a raid on a drug lab in Chihuahua state without federal government knowledge or approval-a potential breach of Mexico’s constitution.
Shortly after, the US justice department announced charges against Sinaloa state’s governor and nine other current and former officials for alleged ties to the powerful Sinaloa cartel.
The governor, Rubén Rocha Moya, is part of Sheinbaum’s Morena party and was closely aligned with her mentor and predecessor Andrés Manuel López Obrador.
Following the indictment, tensions escalated further as Sheinbaum refused to surrender Rocha to US authorities until Washington provides more substantial evidence against him.
Media outlets also indicated that Rocha’s indictment might be just one of many expected charges as CIA operations within Mexico expand.
Last week, Mexico’s congress passed a bill from Sheinbaum that modifies the constitution so that ‘foreign interference’ can annul election results.
On Sunday, Sheinbaum expressed her frustration regarding the indictment openly.
“An incident of this magnitude is unprecedented in our bilateral relations,” she said during a rally. “Is this really a legitimate, genuine interest in helping Mexico? Or are we perhaps seeing sectors of the US far right positioning themselves ahead of their 2026 elections? Or do they intend to influence the 2027 election in our country?”
Source link
Source link
