The diplomatic relationship between Mexico and the United States is under strain following remarks by President Claudia Sheinbaum, who demanded that Ambassador Ronald Johnson limit his role to bilateral coordination and refrain from interfering in internal affairs. As reported by El Universal, the president responded to the U.S. diplomat’s comments regarding the fight against drug cartels, labeling them an intrusion into national policy.
The conflict escalated after Johnson warned, just one day prior to the president’s statement, that turning the fight against organized crime into a political debate represents a missed opportunity to strengthen cooperation between the two nations. In response, Sheinbaum maintained that while there is a shared security agenda, foreign representatives must adhere to the principles of self-determination and non-intervention.
“It is very important, and I say this respectfully, to remember that ambassadors should stick to coordination and collaboration. Ambassadors must be respectful of the internal political affairs of other countries,” the president stated. Sheinbaum emphasized that her own ambassadors abroad do not offer opinions on the domestic politics of the nations where they serve, and she argued that the same standard should apply to Johnson.
The president acknowledged that both countries face shared security challenges, particularly regarding violence fueled by organized crime. However, she stressed that the strategy must be based on each nation acting within its own territory, maintaining coordination without crossing the line into Mexican domestic policy.
The future of the trade agreement
While political tensions rise, the economic front maintains an official stance of continuity. Secretary of Economy Marcelo Ebrard confirmed to El Financiero that on June 1, he formally notified his counterparts in the United States and Canada of Mexico’s intention to extend the USMCA for an additional 16 years.
This decision is based on a national public consultation conducted by the Mexican government between September 17 and November 18 of last year, which included 30 sectoral forums and 32 state-level forums. The results reflected a favorable perception of the agreement as a pillar of North American economic integration and a driver of regional competitiveness.
However, the review process is not without its challenges. According to El Financiero, participants in the consultations expressed concern over the persistence of tariff and non-tariff barriers, including those stemming from the U.S. Section 232 measures on steel and aluminum, which impact trade between the three countries.
To mitigate these frictions, the Ministry of Economy reported that it recently presented two additional proposals for regional cooperation aimed at strengthening supply chains and reducing reliance on Asia in strategic sectors. Nearly six years after the agreement took effect, the Mexican government maintains that providing certainty for investors is essential to sustaining economic growth.
