President López Obrador puts relations with US, Canadian embassies on hold for criticism of judicial overhaul plan
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Loading... - Gregor Berger
- 28 Aug 2024
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Mexico’s President Andrés Manuel López Obrador announced Tuesday that he has "paused" diplomatic relations with the United States and Canadian embassies following criticism of his proposed judicial overhaul, a move that has triggered widespread protests and backlash from financial institutions.
López Obrador's decision to put relations “on pause” is an unusual step that lacks clear diplomatic definition, leaving questions about its implications. Mexico’s foreign ministry has not clarified the specifics of the pause, and it's unclear how it might affect the trilateral economic and diplomatic relationship, which saw an estimated $1.8 trillion in trade in 2022.
The controversy stems from a proposed judicial reform by López Obrador in his final weeks in office, which has been labeled a threat to democracy by critics, including U.S. Ambassador Ken Salazar. Salazar described the proposal as a "risk" to Mexico’s commercial relationship with the U.S., prompting a sharp rebuke from López Obrador, who accused him of violating Mexican sovereignty. The Mexican president implied that Salazar’s comments might have originated from the U.S. State Department, rather than the ambassador himself.
"We’re not going to tell [Salazar] to leave the country," López Obrador said, expressing hope for respect towards Mexico’s sovereignty but stressing that until that happens, relations will remain “on pause.” He also took issue with Canada’s criticism, accusing it of meddling in Mexico's internal affairs.
This diplomatic tension recalls a similar situation in 2022 when López Obrador announced a "pause" in relations with Spain over disputes involving energy companies, characterizing it as a protest rather than a formal break in ties.
The latest friction with the U.S. also follows a period of heightened tensions between the two countries, particularly after the capture of Mexican drug lord “El Mayo” Zambada. Political analysts, like Carlos Pérez Ricart from Mexico's Center for Economic Research and Teaching, note that López Obrador’s rhetoric towards the U.S. has grown more confrontational in recent months, reflecting the evolving strain in bilateral relations.
