U.S Ambassador to Mexico Responds to AMLO on Sinaloa Turf Wars: 'What is Being Seen Is Not the Fault of the U.S.'

The relation between the U.S. and Mexico is going through a rough patch. Mexico's recent controversial judicial overhaul is one factor, as U.S. ambassador Ken Salazar warned that the changes would "threaten" a trade relationship that "relies on investors' confidence in Mexico's legal framework." In response, Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador announced "a pause" in diplomatic relations between the two countries, claiming that they U.S. has to "learn to respect the sovereignty of Mexico."

The impasse between the two countries went one step further last week, as AMLO claimed that the U.S. is partly to blame for the ongoing cartel turf wars in Sinaloa, which has been spiraling following the capture of top drug lord Ismael "El Mayo" Zambada in late July.

Speaking at a press conference, AMLO was asked if the U.S. government was "jointly responsible" for the current situation. "Yes, of course... for having carried out this operation," he answered, adding that "it was totally illegal" and that "if we are now facing instability and clashes in Sinaloa, it is because they made that decision."

This weekend, the U.S. answered back through Salazar, who said that "what is being seen in Sinaloa is not the fault of the United States," adding that the country cannot be held responsible for "the massacres that we see in different places."

Salazar also added that he has told incoming Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum that cooperation between Mexico and the U.S. will have to be "strong and deep" to deal with the security challenges.

Shortly after his statement, Salazar thanked the Mexican government for its cooperation in securing the conviction of Rubén Oseguera González, alias "El Menchito," in the U.S.

Oseguera was convicted on drug trafficking and firearms charges as the former second-in-command of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), led by his father, Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes.

Salazar also praised the cooperation in a post on X: "as noted by Attorney General Garland, 'We thank our Mexican law enforcement partners for their extensive cooperation and sacrifice in holding the leaders of the Jalisco Cartel accountable."