US Ambassador Ken Salazar criticized Mexico’s handling of violence and security cooperation during a press conference on Wednesday. He claimed that the country had “closed its doors” to aid in the fight against drug cartels, despite rampant violence and police corruption.
Salazar argued that Mexico’s government was in denial about the problem, citing statistics that downplayed the severity of the situation. “When they say ‘there is no problem,’ that is not based on reality,” he said. “There is a very big problem.”
Mexico responded to Salazar’s comments with a diplomatic note expressing its surprise at his statement.
The ambassador pointed to recent violence in Sinaloa, where authorities found multiple bodies dumped on roadsides. He contrasted this with the state government’s response, which downplayed the issue and suggested that the situation would soon improve.
Salazar also criticized Mexico’s “hugs not bullets” strategy of not confronting cartels, saying it had failed to work under former President Andrés Manuel López Obrador. His successor, President Claudia Sheinbaum, has pledged to continue this policy.
The violence in Sinaloa was sparked by a fight between two factions of the Sinaloa cartel after two leaders were arrested in the US. Mexico blamed the US for causing the outbreak of violence and accused it of detaining the capos without sufficient evidence.
Salazar disputed this claim, saying that Mexico had shut down anti-drug cooperation after the arrests. He also criticized efforts to downplay crime statistics, suggesting that they were being manipulated.
The ambassador emphasized that the reality for many Mexicans was one of insecurity, particularly for those living in rural areas or working on ranches. He called for a more serious approach to addressing violence and security issues.
Salazar’s comments marked a shift in his rhetoric, as he had previously defended López Obrador’s policies despite concerns about militarization and corruption. The ambassador did not clarify why he thought Mexico’s government was exaggerating crime statistics or changing the way it reports homicide figures.
It remains unclear whether Salazar’s critical turn is related to the recent US presidential election, in which Donald Trump won.
Source: AP News
