The United States ambassador to Mexico, Ken Salazar, expressed his concern about the situation of violence and insecurity in the country, pointing out that the strategy of 'hugs not bullets' has not worked as expected. He stated that it is necessary to recognize the reality of what is happening, referring to the recent clashes between factions of the Sinaloa Cartel in Culiacán and the murder of priest Marcelo Pérez in Chiapas.
Salazar also criticized the decision of former president Andrés Manuel López Obrador to reject $32 million in funding from the United States to combat violence and insecurity in a coordinated manner. The ambassador highlighted the importance of cooperation between both countries in security matters, emphasizing that the republican austerity implemented by the former Mexican president did not contribute to ensuring the safety of the population.
The U.S. diplomat lamented the lack of coordination in security matters over the past year, attributing it in part to López Obrador's refusal to accept financial support and closing the door to investments aimed at combating insecurity. Salazar considered that the pause in the relationship between Mexico and the United States was not due to criticisms of legislative reforms but to the capture of important drug trafficking leaders in the country.
In this sense, Salazar emphasized the importance of security as a pillar of a functional democracy and expressed his confidence that the efforts of the current administration of Claudia Sheinbaum will yield positive results. The ambassador stressed the need to base security policies on the reality of what is happening in the country, recognizing the existing challenges and the importance of international cooperation to address them effectively.
