The US ambassador to Mexico, Ken Salazar, has firmly dismissed President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador’s assertion that the United States is “co-responsible” for the recent violence in Sinaloa, which has resulted in over 50 deaths amid an escalating intra-cartel war. This conflict, involving two rival factions of the powerful Sinaloa Cartel, intensified following the high-profile arrest of notorious trafficker Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada on US soil on July 25.
Zambada has claimed that he was kidnapped in Mexico and taken to the US by Joaquin Guzman Lopez, a senior leader in a rival faction, who was reportedly negotiating surrender terms with US officials. This incident has further strained relations between the two nations, with Mexico seeking clarification on the matter.
Lopez Obrador, who is set to leave office next month, stated that the US shares some blame for the violence, referencing the previous talks with Guzman. However, Ambassador Salazar refuted this claim during a press conference in Chihuahua, asserting, “What is being seen in Sinaloa is not the fault of the United States,” and emphasized that the US cannot be held accountable for the massacres occurring in various regions.
Salazar also conveyed to incoming Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum the necessity for robust cooperation between the two countries to tackle security challenges. In response to the escalating violence, Mexican authorities announced the deployment of an additional 600 soldiers to Sinaloa to bolster security efforts.