By Jorge Antonio Rocha
MEXICO CITY (AA)- Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum criticized remarks Thursday by US Ambassador to Mexico Ken Salazar about Mexico's public security strategy under the previous government of Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador.
"Mexico is a free, independent and sovereign country," Sheinbaum said at a news conference following Salazar's comments on Mexico's handling of the violence in its territory.
Salazar, during a news conference Wednesday, criticized Lopez Obrador, who allegedly refused resources offered by the US to reinforce security.
"The previous president refused to receive support from the United States. He closed the door to investments, over $32 million, because he didn't want that investment to come to Mexico to help with the security of the Mexican people," said Salazar.
The Mexican Foreign Ministry promptly issued a diplomatic note for Salazar that expressed "its concerns for the messages shared by the current US ambassador to our country."
Sheinbaum noted that Salazar previously praised Lopez Obrador's security strategy.
"First, it is worth mentioning that there are differences between what the US ambassador says one day and what he says on another day," she said.
She showed a video where Salazar lauded Lopez Obrador for his security efforts at a news conference in April, noting that the government arrested major cartel leaders under the former president.
"Sometimes when they say we don't do much, I tell them, well, look at what we did with Rafael Caro Quintero, Ovidio Guzmán, El Nini, and others," said Salazar on April 23, referring to the leaders of cartels who have been arrested.
"So, which statement do we listen to? The one from yesterday? Or the one from a few months ago?" asked Sheinbaum. "That's the first issue because there must be consistency and logic in the statements one makes. You can't say one thing and then say something else later."
Mexico is undergoing a relentless wave of violence, with more than 116,000 forceful disappearances reported as of Thursday, nearly 50% within the Lopez Obrador administration, and north of 200,000 murders.
Salazar, however, known for his closeness and friendly relationship with Lopez Obrador, shared his criticism with the advent of Donald Trump's US election victory on Nov. 5.
Trump has promised to "wage war on the cartels" and warned neighboring countries that if they refused to cooperate, his government will expose "every bribe, every kickback, every payoff, and every bit of corruption that is allowing the cartels to preserve their brutal reign."
Sheinbaum seemed open to the possibility but hinted that cooperation is not automatic.
"There is coordination, which will continue because it is very important. We share a common border, so there must be coordination, there must be high-level dialogue that allows us to coordinate on different issues that are important to both countries. We are also trade partners, but not subordinates," she said.