U.S. Ambassador to Mexico Ken Salazar on Wednesday lashed out at the Mexican government’s security policy that he said did not work, and criticized the previous president’s rejection of millions of dollars in security aid for ideological reasons.
Furthermore, he emphasized that denying reality and saying that nothing is happening does not solve the problem.
“The strategy of ‘hugs, not bullets’ did not work,” said Salazar, referring to the motto of former president Andrés Manuel López Obrador. Salazar maintained a cordial relationship with him until a few months ago, when the situation became tense.
Zambada said he had been kidnapped by Guzmán López, who turned himself in to US authorities. Mexico opened an investigation, upset by the lack of details from Washington, which it indirectly blames for the violence unleashed.
Salazar pointed out that it was then that cooperation stopped. «There the doors of the Mexican government were completely closed. Never, never those of the United States government,” he declared.
But he added that relations already had problems before.
“Unfortunately that coordination has failed in the last year, largely because the previous president did not want to receive support from the United States, he closed the door to investments” of more than 32 million dollars because “he did not want the investment to reach Mexico to help with the security of the Mexican people,” he denounced.
The diplomat did not clarify what type of aid it was, but said that she is still detained and “that is not a good example of how to work.”
During his government, López Obrador cut funding for the police forces and gave the Army, Navy and the militarized National Guard the main security duties. In addition, he rejected US support for military equipment and training for security forces.
The ambassador assured that, for Sheinbaum’s plan to be successful, “it cannot remain in the explanations of the past” of rejecting support “due to ideological problems”, but must work to improve relations with the United States and confront reality with “the truth” and with money for security programs, instead of applying “republican austerity.”
“What scares one (is that) there is not going to be the investment that is required,” lamented the ambassador. And “you can’t pay a police officer almost anything and expect him to do his job.”
On the same Wednesday, the Senate approved a constitutional reform that gives the Ministry of Security and the National Guard new powers in investigative matters. The initiative, which will now go to Congress, was unanimously endorsed by all parties, but experts warn that, to be effective, it will need citizen controls and money.
Salazar also noted that to reduce insecurity it is necessary “a justice system that really works” and “have good investigations, not just talking about zero impunity, but really getting to the truth.”
The United States has harshly criticized the recent reform of the Judiciary in Mexico, which in its opinion will deteriorate democracy.
However, he shared the president’s commitment to continue influencing the prevention of causes with social programs, in the same way that López Obrador did.
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