U.S. Ambassador Ken Salazar has pushed back against Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador’s recent claims that the U.S. is partly responsible for the surge of cartel violence in the state of Sinaloa. The region has been gripped by intense conflict between rival factions of the Sinaloa cartel, particularly in its capital, Culiacán, following the arrests of key cartel leaders in the U.S.
At a news conference in Chihuahua on Saturday, Salazar firmly denied any U.S. role in the violence, stating, “What is being seen in Sinaloa is not the fault of the United States.” He added, “It is incomprehensible how the United States can be responsible for the massacres we see in different places.”
The violence in Sinaloa escalated after two major cartel figures, including Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada, were arrested and flown to the U.S. in late July, following an apparent internal power struggle within the Sinaloa cartel. The arrests have sparked clashes between rival factions, leading to widespread fear in Culiacán as cartel members engage in brutal and symbolic killings, leaving bodies displayed with sombreros or pizza slices.
At least 53 people have been killed, and 51 others reported missing since the fighting erupted, with local residents expressing fear over sending their children to school amidst the violence. Helicopters and military patrols have become a regular sight in the capital city as authorities attempt to regain control.
On Thursday, López Obrador suggested that the U.S. bore partial responsibility for the instability in Sinaloa, blaming the operation to capture Zambada. He claimed that the arrests were carried out illegally and criticized U.S. Department of Justice agents for allegedly coordinating the capture.
Salazar refuted these claims, reiterating that American officials were not involved in any kidnapping and placing the blame on Mexico’s broader security challenges. “The reality is that there is a problem of insecurity and violence” in Mexico, he said.
Tensions between the U.S. and Mexico have recently escalated. In addition to López Obrador’s criticism of U.S. actions in Sinaloa, the Mexican president last month also put relations with the U.S. and Canadian embassies “on pause” after backlash over his proposed judicial reforms.
Despite the deployment of an additional 600 soldiers to Sinaloa, the violence shows no signs of abating. López Obrador’s administration, which has been marked by a refusal to directly confront cartel violence, continues to face scrutiny over its security policies as the president prepares to leave office.
