President Claudia Sheinbaum accused former U.S. Ambassador Ken Salazar of lying about American involvement in the capture of drug lord Ismael "El Mayo" Zambada.
The dispute highlights escalating tensions over foreign interference in Mexico's security affairs and questions of collusion between the U.S. government and the Sinaloa cartel.
During a morning press conference in Mexico City on July 7 [2], Sheinbaum questioned whether Salazar had been truthful regarding the operation that led to the capture of Zambada. She said that everything seems to indicate the U.S. ambassador lied [1]. The president sought clarification on whether there was an agreement with criminal elements to facilitate the arrest, framing the incident as a breach of national sovereignty.
The ambush that led to the capture of the drug lord occurred two years ago in 2024 [1]. Sheinbaum asked, "Does former Ambassador Ken Salazar lie about the capture of El Mayo?" [1]
Salazar responded to the allegations on July 9 [3]. He denied any U.S. participation in the specific logistics of the ambush. He said it was not a U.S. plane, nor a U.S. pilot, nor a U.S. operation [3].
The disagreement centers on the level of coordination between the two nations during the 2024 operation. While the U.S. maintains that its role was limited or non-existent in the tactical execution of the capture, the Mexican presidency suggests a deeper level of involvement that was not formally disclosed to the Mexican government.
“"Todo parece indicar que el embajador de EU mintió"”
This confrontation signals a shift in the diplomatic relationship between Mexico and the U.S., moving toward a more confrontational stance regarding security operations. By publicly questioning the honesty of a former top diplomat, President Sheinbaum is asserting a nationalist security agenda that views unauthorized U.S. operations on Mexican soil as a violation of sovereignty rather than strategic cooperation.
