By Armando Hernandez
Aug 27, 2024, 7:46 PM EDT
After the United States ambassador to Mexico, Ken Salazar criticized the judicial reform promoted by President Andrés Manuel López Obrador, The president announced on Tuesday a “pause” in his relationship with the US and Canadian embassies.
This decision was made after warnings from diplomats about the risks of the reform to elect the Judicial Branch in Mexico by popular vote, however, As the hours passed, Ken Salazar softened his stanceit seems, with the aim of rebuilding the relationship.
The ambassador released on his social networks the diplomatic note he sent to the Mexican Foreign Ministry, where in addition to Reiterating his respect for Mexican sovereignty, he said that “the United States supports the concept of judicial reform in Mexico,” but notes that “it is of great concern that the popular election of judges does not address judicial corruption or strengthen the judiciary.”
We always work with the utmost respect for Mexico’s sovereignty, as we expressed in the diplomatic note we sent on August 23. pic.twitter.com/WqP4DDqHss
— Ambassador Ken Salazar (@USAmbMex) August 27, 2024
The president had already questioned the representative from Washington for mentioning that the judicial reform puts democracy in Mexico and trade relations with the United States at “risk,” but this Tuesday, the position changed.
The Mexican government even sent a note of protest to the United States Embassy because its criticism “represents an unacceptable act of interference” and “contravenes national sovereignty.”
Now, Salazar said: “As we work together as partners to make North American economic integration a reality, and address shared security challenges that directly affect both our peoples, it is in the interest of the United States to identify developments that would unnecessarily limit our ability to achieve those goals together.”
“The United States looks forward to continuing its close collaboration with Mexico to achieve our shared goals as equal partners and in the spirit of friendship that reflects our longstanding ties,” he said.
We support President @lopezobrador_ for interventionist comments from the embassies of 🇺🇸and🇨🇦.
Decisions about 🇲🇽are made by Mexicans.
Our relationship with friends and neighbors in North America is a priority and fundamental, and on a daily basis it remains fluid and normal. https://t.co/GFVEquhyPB— Alicia Bárcena (@aliciabarcena) August 27, 2024
According to experts, this episode marks a rare moment of tension in the bilateral relationship between Mexico and the United States, especially on such sensitive issues as judicial reform and security. The United States embassy reaffirmed its interest in maintaining close collaboration with Mexico, seeking to achieve common goals and strengthen the relationship between both nations.
If the reform is approved in September, Mexicans would go to the polls starting in 2025 to elect judges, magistrates and Supreme Court ministers, while in 2026 the country will face the revision of the Treaty between Mexico, the United States and Canada (T-MEC), which calls for legal certainty for investments.
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