Tuesday, July 8, 2025

A reform to protect Mexico’s sovereignty: Thursday’s mañanera recapped

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MND Staff
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President Claudia Sheinbaum stands at a table in the national palace press briefing room holding open a portfolio with a sheet of paper on each side that contains the text of proposed reforms to the Mexican constitution.
President Claudia Sheinbaum, center, holds up a proposed reform to the Mexican constitution that she says would reinforce Mexico's sovreignty and impose "the most severe possible" punishments on foreign agents interfering with Mexico's status as a sovereign nation. (Daniel Augusto/Cuartoscuro)

At her Thursday morning press conference, President Claudia Sheinbaum responded to the United States’ designation of six Mexican cartels as foreign terrorist organizations by announcing she was sending a constitutional reform proposal to Congress to bolster the protection of Mexico’s sovereignty.

Among other issues, Sheinbaum also spoke about United States President Donald Trump’s decision to launch an anti-drug campaign.

President Claudia Sheinbaum standing next to a projection screen with blown up copy of text of Article 40 of the Mexican constitution on one half of the screen and proposed revision of said article on the other.
Sheinbaum’s proposed reform would add two paragraphs to the Mexican constitution’s Article 40, stating among other things, that Mexico will not consent to intervention by foreign entities in Mexican territory, not even for the purpose of investigating or prosecuting crimes. (Daniel Augusto/Cuartoscuro)

Sheinbaum: Designation of cartels as terrorists not an ‘opportunity’ for US to ‘invade our sovereignty’

On the day the United States’ designation of six Mexican cartels as foreign terrorist organizations took effect, Sheinbaum declared that Mexico’s sovereignty is not up for negotiation.

The terrorist designations of the Sinaloa Cartel, the Jalisco New Generation Cartel and other Mexican criminal organizations “can’t be an opportunity for the United States to invade our sovereignty,” she said.

“They can name cartels as they choose, but with Mexico it’s collaboration and coordination, never subordination, no interference or invasion,” Sheinbaum said.

In that context, the president announced she was submitting a constitutional reform proposal to Congress.

Sheinbaum read out a proposed addition to Article 40 of the Mexican constitution:

Donald Trump speaking at CPAC 2011 in Washington, D.C.
Sheinbaum’s constitutional reform proposal seems to be preparing for the possibility of U.S. President Donald Trump justifying unauthorized incursions onto Mexican soil in the name of hunting down cartels. (Gage Skidmore/Wikimedia Commons – Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.0)

“The people of Mexico, under no circumstance, will accept interventions, interference or any other act from abroad that is harmful to the integrity, independence and sovereignty of the nation, such as coups, interference in elections or violation of Mexican territory whether it’s by land, water, sea or air space.”

“Nor will they allow intervention in investigations or any pursuit [of a suspect] without the authorization and express collaboration of the Mexican state within the framework of applicable laws.”

Sheinbaum also read out a proposed addition to Article 19 of the Mexican constitution.

“The most severe possible punishment as well as the precautionary measure of preventive prison will be imposed on any national or foreigner involved in the manufacture, distribution, transfer, transport or illicit admission to national territory of weapons, and on any foreigner who carries out activities on the margin of the law associated with the second and third paragraphs of article 40 of this constitution.”

Therefore, any foreign agents — from the CIA or DEA, for example — who enter Mexico without the authorization of the Mexican government would be subject to arrest, imprisonment before trial and harsh penalties if convicted.

“These are the two modifications to the Constitution that we’re sending [to Congress],” Sheinbaum said.

“What does this mean? We collaborate, we coordinate, we work together [with the United States], but there is no interference, no violation of sovereignty,” she said, adding that “this is what we want to be made clear” in light of the United States government’s designation of six Mexican cartels as foreign terrorist organizations.

Sheinbaum also made it clear that Mexico, like the United States, is determined to combat drug trafficking, organized crime groups and violence.

She also said that the Mexican government would broaden its lawsuit against U.S. gun manufacturers and distributors in consideration of the designation of six cartels as terrorist groups.

“There will be a broadening of this lawsuit due to the complicity [with terrorists] of those that sell weapons that are brought into our country,” Sheinbaum said.

President Claudia Sheinbaum at her daily press conference, standing behind the presidential podium, talking to reporters
In addressing Mexico’s new national anti-drug campaign, Sheinbaum made sure to point out — as she’s done before — that Mexico doesn’t have a fentanyl crisis the way the United States does. The new campaign, she said, is to try and prevent a crisis here.

Sheinbaum responds to Trump’s decision to launch anti-drug campaign

A day after Trump thanked her for giving him the idea to launch an anti-drug campaign, Sheinbaum returned the favor.

“I obviously thank him for the mention,” she said.

“I think that it is something important,” Sheinbaum continued, referring to the U.S. anti-drug campaign.

“We have always said that the trafficking of drugs to the United States has to do with drug use in the United States, that it’s not just an issue for Mexico. … There wouldn’t be distribution of drugs to the United States if there wasn’t drug use in the United States,” she said.

The decision to launch an anti-drug campaign is “recognition from the United States president of what we call attention to the causes,” Sheinbaum said.

“… It’s recognition that they have to attend to the issue of drug use there,” she said.

“And I think that’s very important. … So I think this announcement that President Trump made yesterday is very important,” Sheinbaum said.

Government seeks agreement with gas stations to limit profits

Mexican woman wearing Pemex uniform holding a gas station pump as she prepares to put it into a car's gas tank.
Mexicans have been facing higher prices at the pump since last year. (Victoria Valtierra/Cuartoscuro)

A reporter asked the president whether the government was prepared to establish a price cap for gasoline — possibly 24 pesos per liter — as part of efforts to keep inflation under control.

“This issue with the price of gasoline — what is not regulated, let’s say, is the profits of a private company,” Sheinbaum said.

“The Pemex gas stations are in fact Pemex franchises, they’ve been operated privately for a long time, and Pemex also sells [fuel] to non-Pemex gas stations, and apart from that, there is imported gasoline,” she said.

“Before entering into a scheme of fixing prices, we think that we can reach a voluntary agreement [with gas stations]. We did it [with the private sector] for the basic basket [of essential goods],” Sheinbaum said.

“So first we want a voluntary agreement, in which they themselves, the gas station owners, moderate the amount of pesos they earn for each liter they sell. So that is what we are working on,” she said.

“Ideally what we want is this voluntary agreement. If the voluntary agreement doesn’t happen, then we could think about other ways, but I believe — because of the meetings we’ve already had — that it is possible to reach one,” Sheinbaum said.

“… We still have next week to seal [the deal] and everything is going well, so I expect that we’ll be able to sign it very soon,” she said.

Mexican and US forces to collaborate more closely on cross-border security issues 

Sheinbaum said that Defense Minister Ricardo Trevilla Trejo and General Gregory M. Guillot, Commander of the U.S. Northern Command, had a “very good, very respectful conversation.”

Mexican soldier in uniform and neon emergency personnel vest with a Mexico patch talks to a male driver inside a passenger vehicle as he approaches the border.
A member of the Mexican military inspects cars approaching the Mexican side of the Mexican-U.S. border in Ciuadad Juáarez earlier this month. (Carlos Sánchez Colunga/Cuartoscuro)

The U.S. Northern Command said in a statement on Wednesday that the two men “met recently to discuss cooperation to increase security along the Mexico and U.S. border.”

“The conversation resulted in the formulation of a Joint Statement of Understanding regarding cooperative activities along the border, to include coordinated patrols on their respective sides of the border, increased information sharing, and methods for immediate communications,” the statement said.

“The conversation and agreements emphasize that each country will respect the sovereignty of the other,” it added.

Sheinbaum said that U.S. security forces could share information with Mexican forces about arms trafficking, for example, “or vice versa in the face of other conditions,” such as the northward flows of drugs or migrants.

“Above all, communication and coordination in these cases was spoken about” during the meeting between Trevilla and Guillot, she said.

By Mexico News Daily chief staff writer Peter Davies ([email protected])

‘Doomsday fish’ washes ashore near Loreto

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MND Staff
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Elderly man in shorts and sandals and no shirt on the shore of a beach in Mexico touching an oarfish in the surf. The iridescent fish is a pellagic type, i.e. very long and reminiscent of an eel.
U.S. tourist Robert Hayes spotted the fish struggling to swim in the surf on Playa El Quemado, a beach in the town of Puerto Escondido, Baja Calfornia Sur. (Screen capture/Robert Hayes)

A deep-sea creature nicknamed the “doomsday fish” — rarely seen by humans because it typically dwells at depths of up to 1,000 meters — was spotted earlier this month on a Mexican beach and videotaped by American tourists.

Not only did the video of the oarfish go viral, but the rare sighting led to coverage in both the New York Times and the Washington Post.

A horizontal line of about 25 Navy soldiers, all standing and holding a part of a giant dead oarfish in front of them.
Some species of oarfish can grow to enormous lengths, such as this 7-meter-long giant oarfish that washed up on shore near San Diego, California, in 1996. However, the one sighted near Loreto appears to have been a juvenile. (Wm. Leo Smith/Wikimedia Commons)

Having captivated beachgoers at the time and delighted marine enthusiasts ever since, the sighting occurred on Feb. 9 at Playa El Quemado, near the town of Puerto Escondido in Baja California Sur. The area is on the Gulf of California about 28 kilometers south of Loreto.

According to published reports, Robert Hayes, a 64-year-old tourist from Boise, Idaho, was walking along the beach with his wife when they noticed an unusual creature approaching the shore. Initially mistaken for a small alligator or shark, the ribbon-like fish was identified as an oarfish by a Canadian fisherman at the scene.

Known for its elongated, eel-like body and distinctive reddish dorsal fins, the oarfish appeared disoriented as it swam in shallow waters in the surf. Despite attempts to guide it back to deeper waters, the fish repeatedly returned to the beach.

At only a few feet long, this particular oarfish was small, perhaps a juvenile or a smaller species of oarfish. Although no size was reported, Hayes said the fisherman told him that it was among the smallest oarfish he had ever seen.

Some oarfish, notably a species known as the giant oarfish, can reach 8 to 11 meters (26-36 feet)  in length, making them the world’s largest bony fish. Typically, they live at depths of 200 to 1,000 meters (660-3,280 feet) and are characterized by a silvery skin that lacks scales and is coated with guanine, giving it a unique appearance.

The mysterious creatures are known for their vertical swimming pattern, which, combined with their reflective coloration, allows them to camouflage effectively in the water column.

The video that made a Mexican fish an internet celebrity.

In Japanese folklore, oarfish sightings are considered omens of impending earthquakes or other natural disasters, earning them the “doomsday fish” moniker. However, a 2019 study by Japanese researchers debunked any significant link between oarfish appearances and seismic activity.

Although rare, human brushes with oarfish aren’t unprecedented. Last spring, a group of sport fishermen caught a 3-meter-long, 64-kilogram (141 pounds) oarfish off the coast of Cabo San Lucas.

A little before that, there were separate sightings, about a month apart, of two dead oarfishes on beaches near La Paz on the Gulf of Mexico coastline. Another person shared his experience of seeing an oarfish near Loreto in 2006. And Mexico News Daily wrote about catchings or sightings of a 2.4-meter oarfish in July 2019, a 6-meter oarfish in June 2020 and a 3-meter oarfish in July 2020.

Ted Pietsch, a professor emeritus at the University of Washington’s School of Aquatic and Fishery Sciences, said that an oarfish coming to the shore is as unexplainable as it is rare.

“Nobody knows why they do this,” said Pietsch, whose work focuses on deep-sea fishes, particularly anglerfish. “It’s the same as the mystery of why whales beach themselves.”

He and other scientists emphasize that isolated sightings of oarfish do not necessarily indicate broader oceanic distress or species population issues. 

This month’s sighting has drawn attention to Playa El Quemado, a pristine beach known for its ecotourism potential. The area offers activities such as night diving, camping and wildlife photography, and nearby there are marine animals such as hammerhead sharks and blue whales.

With reports from Infobae, New York Times and Washington Post

Mexican authorities capture two top Sinaloa Cartel operatives in Culiacán

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MND Staff
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El Guerito and el 200, two high-ranking Sinaloa Cartel operatives arrested Thursday in Culiacán
Mexican armed forces captured José Ángel "El Güerito" Canobbio (right) on Thursday, before bringing and Kevin Alonso Gil Acosta, known as “El 200,” into custody. (Sedena)

Just hours after the United States added the Sinaloa Cartel to its list of foreign terrorist organizations, Mexican authorities arrested two key leaders of the crime gang that has been fighting a bloody factional war since September.

José Ángel Canobbio, aka “El Güerito,” and Kevin Alonso Gil Acosta, known as “El 200,” were arrested in the Sinaloa state capital of Culiacán after extensive operations carried out by federal authorities.

el 200 of the chapitos faction
Kevin Alonso Gil Acosta, known as “el 200,” was chief of security for the leader of the Chapitos faction. (Sedena)

Both men have been described as high-ranking members of the cartel and key associates of Iván Archivaldo Guzmán, the leader of the “Los Chapitos” faction.

Gil Acosta was described by federal authorities as one of the top security chiefs for Iván Archivaldo Guzmán, the alleged leader of the Chapitos and son of Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán. His apprehension was announced by the Mexican government on Thursday.

His responsibilities reportedly included the execution of security measures within the faction, as well as high-profile tasks directed by Guzmán himself. Security Minister Omar García Harfuch said in a social media post that “El 200” also coordinated the purchase of weapons and ammunition for “Los Chapitos.”

“He is linked to homicides, extortions and attacks on the authorities, as well as generating violence in the state,” García Harfuch added.

Canobbio has been identified as the cartel’s financial operator with close connections to significant drug trafficking operations. Allegations link Canobbio to several violent incidents — including assaults on military installations — and tie him to other organized crime activities across the region.

In a separate social media post, García Harfuch said Canobbio “was in charge of planning routes for the distribution of fentanyl, cocaine and methamphetamine internationally” and that there is an outstanding warrant for drug trafficking and distribution in the United States.

His arrest was announced by the Mexican government on Wednesday.

Both suspects were found with military-grade weapons and tactical gear at the time of their arrest, according to government press releases.

Internecine warfare passes five-month mark

Infighting within the Sinaloa Cartel broke out on Sept. 9 after rival drug lords Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada and Iván’s half-brother Joaquín Guzmán López were apprehended in the United States after flying there in a small plane on July 25.

The Associated Press described the violence, and the tactics, as unprecedented, even for residents of Culiacán who have “long been accustomed to a day or two of violence once in a while.”

The apprehension of these alleged cartel leaders demonstrates the intensified law enforcement efforts against drug trafficking being conducted since President Claudia Sheinbaum took office on Oct. 1.

Ismael El Mayo Zambada and Joaquin Guzmán López
Zambada (left) alleged that rival faction leader Joaquín Guzmán López (right), kidnapped and turned him into United States law enforcement agents. (Archive)

The new strategy appears to be targeting the command structure of the “Los Chapitos” faction of the cartel. The dual apprehension was effected using tactics involving both ground troops and aerial support. Authorities utilized helicopters and armored vehicles, while targeting areas known for gang activity.

In anticipation of a cartel response and due to the running gun battles that took place the past few days, local authorities announced that public schools and universities in the Culiacán area would be holding virtual classes for the time being.

Eight civilians were wounded by stray bullets in the past few days, according to the newspaper El Universal.

These latest arrests come shortly after two other principal figures in the Sinaloa Cartel were arrested.

Humberto Rivera, a leader of cartel operations in the Cd. Juárez area, was arrested last week in the northern state of Chihuahua. The 51-year-old Rivera — a priority target of the FBI — was flown on Sunday to Mexico City where he now awaits extradition proceedings, according to the El Paso Times newspaper.

On Monday, officials in the Dominican Republic, with support from the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and U.S. Marshals, arrested Efraín Sánchez Cabanillas, alias “Bala.” Sánchez is wanted in the U.S. for conspiring to distribute fentanyl, cocaine and methamphetamines.

The Sinaloa Cartel also suffered further disruptions last week. García Harfuch reported on Feb. 14 that naval intelligence activities helped federal authorities locate and neutralize several clandestine labs used to manufacture synthetic drugs in Sinaloa.

With reports from El Universal, Milenio, El País, Latin Times, BBC and El Paso Times

Netflix to invest US $1B in Mexico

By
MND Staff
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President Sheinbaum at her daily press conference standing and posing for a picture with Netflix CEO Ted Sarandos. They are standing in front of a projection screen with a still of a crew filming a movie
Netflix CEO Ted Sarandos visited President Sheinbaum's dailly press conference Thursday to share the news of the Netflix investment in Mexico. (Daniel Augusto/Cuartoscuro)

Streaming platform Netflix announced Thursday plans to invest US $1 billion in Mexico over the next four years, to produce films and TV series. 

Speaking at President Claudia Sheinbaum’s daily morning press conference in Mexico City, Netflix CEO Ted Sarandos said he looked forward to entering more partnerships with producers in the country.

Cast of the TV show "Club de Cuervos" posing for paparazzi on a red carpet in front of a wall that has promotional wallpaper displaying the logos for Mexico's Fenix Awards, Mexico City InStyle magazine and others.
Netflix’s first original production outside of the U.S. was of the Mexican hit TV show, “Club de Cuervos.” (Wikimedia Commons)

“Our journey in Mexico has taken us from north to south, from sunsets on the Baja California peninsula to sunrises on the Caribbean coast. We have produced in more than 50 locations in 25 states. With this renewed commitment, we hope to further deepen our partnership,” Sarandos said.

He also announced a collaboration with Mexico City’s iconic Estudios Churubusco to improve its facilities. The goal, Sarandos said, is to strengthen the national film industry.

“This country holds a very special place in Netflix’s history,” Sarandos said, referring to the TV show Club de Cuervos, which aired ten years ago. It was the company’s first-ever original production outside of the United States. 

“[Club de Cuervos] paved the way for our programming strategy, which is all about local production,” he said. 

Sarandos also recalled Roma, Netflix’s first original film ever to win an Academy Award in the foreign picture category. Alfonso Cuarón’s movie was also the first Mexican film to win an Oscar for Best Foreign Picture. He also recalled Pinocchio, by Guillermo del Toro, which gave Netflix – and Mexico – its first ever Oscar for an animated film. 

These are only a few examples of Mexican productions. Others include La Casa de Las Flores, Los Dos Hemisferios de Lucca, Luis Miguel La Serie, or the upcoming documentary about the life of Mexican singer Juan Gabriel, among others.

Outside wall to Estudios Churubusco film studios in Mexico City.
As part of its investment in Mexico, Netflix has also committed to a collaboration to improve one of Mexico’s oldest film and television studios, Estudios Churubusco, where many of Mexico’s most famous movies — and some Hollywood classics — have been filmed. (Estudios Churubusco)

“In collaboration with the Mexican government and the industry, we will continue to fund programs that help diverse and creative talents behind the camera develop in the world of entertainment,” Sarandos said. 

The recent production of the feature film Pedro Páramo (based on the Mexican book by the same name) contributed more than 375 million pesos (US $18 million) to Mexico’s GDP and generated thousands of jobs in sectors such as textile manufacturing, hospitality and transportation.

During her speech, Sheinbaum said that Netflix’s decision to invest in Mexico not only responds to tax incentives or competitive production costs but also to the cultural and creative wealth of the country that has allowed the platform to expand through the production of original content.

Netflix established its Latin American headquarters in Mexico City in 2020, during Sheinbaum’s term as the capital’s mayor. In the last five years, Sarandos said its workforce has grown tenfold.

Mexico News Daily

Trump thanks Sheinbaum for inspiring launch of major US anti-drug campaign

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MND Staff
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Two photos, one of Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum and another of U.S. President Donald Trump, who said Sheinbaum inspired his new anti-drug campaign
Trump announced his agreement with Sheinbaum for a temporary tariff reprieve after their Thursday phone call. (Presidencia, Gage Skidmore)

United States President Donald Trump thanked Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum on Wednesday for giving him the idea to launch an anti-drugs campaign, on which he pledged to spend “hundreds of millions of dollars.”

Speaking at a Saudi Arabia-backed investment conference in Miami, Trump said he had spoken to Sheinbaum about drugs and she told him that Mexico is not a “consumer nation.”

“I said … why is that? … She said, ‘Well, we have very strong family values,'” he said.

“I said ‘But we do too. We do too.’ …  I said, ‘Well, you’re not really saying anything there because we have great families too. We have great family values,'” Trump said.

He noted that Sheinbaum — who he referred to as a “very wonderful woman” — also told him that Mexico spends a lot of money on anti-drug advertising.

“And I said ‘unbelievable.’ That was such a great conversation because we’re going to spend hundreds of millions of dollars advertising how bad drugs are so that kids don’t use them — [we’re going to say] that they chew up your brain, they destroy your teeth, your skin, your everything. And I thanked her for that,” Trump said.

He subsequently said that the U.S. government would launch an anti-drugs campaign “with $100 million and then another $100 million initially.”

“… I saw some of the ads and they are really violent. I said you have to make them strong,” Trump said.

“Your skin practically comes off after a period of time. You lose your hearing. You lose your teeth. … It is terrible, and we show this happening to people,” he said.

“… She really gave me something,” Trump said, referring to the idea Sheinbaum gave him during a call.

Trump expressed admiration for the strong imagery used in Mexico’s new anti-fentanyl ads. (Secretaría de Salud)

“… I was going to call her and tell her that she did, but now I don’t have to call her because she’s going to be seeing this right now. So to the president of Mexico, thank you very much. I appreciate it. … We’re going to do a great advertising campaign saying how bad it is, how drugs are so bad for you,” he said.

Trump didn’t say exactly when he spoke to Sheinbaum about Mexico’s anti-drug advertising campaign.

Sheinbaum said on social media in late November that she had spoken to Trump about “the campaign we’re carrying out in the country to prevent the use of fentanyl.”

The U.S. president has spoken frequently of his commitment to stopping the entry of fentanyl to the United States, and pledged to impose 25% tariffs on all Mexican exports to the U.S. as he seeks to pressure Mexico to do more to stem the northward flow of the powerful opioid. The proposed tariffs are currently paused but could take effect next month.

Although Trump is intent on blocking the entry of fentanyl and combating Mexican drug cartels — six of which are now designated as foreign terrorist organizations in the U.S. — his “sweeping freeze on foreign aid has temporarily stopped U.S.-funded anti-narcotics programs in Mexico that for years have been working to curb the flow of the synthetic opioid into the United States,” Reuters said in an exclusive report last week.

‘Fentanyl kills’: Mexico’s anti-drug campaign

In early January, Sheinbaum officially presented a 300-million-peso (US $14.8 million) “national” and “permanent” anti-drugs campaign under the name “Aléjate de las drogas. El fentanilo te mata” or “Stay away from drugs. Fentanyl kills you.”

The campaign includes billboards, advertising on television, radio and social media, drug education in schools and other measures. The billboards are especially prevalent in Mexico City.

“Fentanyl kills you. They put it in other drugs to get you hooked. A united family gives you life,” says one ad posted to social media by the Health Ministry.

“[Fentanyl] destroys your muscles and body, causes paranoia and suicidal thoughts, provokes respiratory arrest and heart attacks, kills your neurons and brain. Stay away from drugs, choose to be happy,” says one video advertisement.

On the day the “Stay away from drugs campaign” was officially launched, Sheinbaum asserted that the use of fentanyl “is not really a problem” in Mexico.

While fentanyl is used in Mexico and there have been deaths linked to the powerful synthetic opioid here, “there is not a crisis like there is in the United States,” she said.

“… We don’t want [the overdose crisis] to reach our country, and that’s why we’re starting this campaign against fentanyl,” Sheinbaum said.

Fentanyl pills in bags
While there are cases of fentanyl abuse in Mexico, available data doesn’t indicate an opioid crisis like in the U.S. (CBP Troy Miller/X)

The government of former president Andrés Manuel López Obrador also ran an anti-drugs campaign, and in early 2023 then deputy health minister Hugo López-Gatell was announced as Mexico’s new addiction prevention “czar.”

The current and former anti-drugs campaigns have faced criticism for a range of reasons, including because of the focus on fentanyl, which — as Sheinbaum has pointed out — is not widely used in Mexico, and because they have allegedly aroused interest in the synthetic opioid among users of other drugs.

“The main drug problem in Mexico is the use of methamphetamines,” the news website Expansión reported earlier this month.

Health Minister David Kershenobich said last month that was “probably” the case, although he said that fentanyl “is the most significant” drug used in Mexico “in the sense of mortality and the harm it causes.”

Mexico News Daily 

Banxico slashes 2025 GDP growth forecast for Mexico to 0.6%

By
MND Staff
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Man with his head and face covered with white cloths works on a building in Mexico City while standing on scaffolding next to the building.
Mexico's central bank said the revised forecast takes into account an economic slowdown now known to have taken place in Q4 of 2024. (Margarito Pérez Retana/Cuartoscuro)

Mexico’s central bank lowered its estimate for GDP growth in 2025 to 0.6% Wednesday, while also warning of the risk of economic contraction.

The Bank of Mexico (Banxico) said its latest forecast — issued as part of its quarterly report — takes into account the negative fourth-quarter performance slowdown, the newspaper El Economista reported, and brings the central bank’s forecast in line with projections issued by financial services company Moody’s Ratings in January.

Bank of Mexico Governor Victoria Rodriguez Ceja
Banxico head Victoria Rodríguez. (Presidencia)

In announcing the new estimate, Banxico Governor Victoria Rodríguez cautioned Wednesday that the new figure does not yet include the potential impact of any measures the U.S. may take with regard to trade and tariffs.

“The economy faces various challenges, including weakness due to internal considerations and uncertainty due to U.S. policies that may change the configuration of value chains,” she said.

Among the internal weaknesses cited by Rodríguez were low consumer consumption and slowing private investment. These factors, as well as budget restraints and inflation concerns, are expected to prevail during the first half of 2025.

Just last month, a survey conducted by Banxico found that private sector analysts had reduced growth forecasts from 1.12% to 1%, and this was down from the bank’s estimate of 1.2% in November.

A 0.6% growth rate would be considerably lower than the 2.3% growth rate projected by the Finance Ministry in its 2025 budget and lower than the 1.5% growth recorded in 2024. It would also be Mexico’s poorest economic performance since 2020, according to the newspaper El Financiero.

In its quarterly report, Banxico said it expects Mexico’s economy to fluctuate between –0.2% and 1.4%, a lower range than projected in November when the Board of Governors predicted a performance range from 0.3% and 2.0%.

One factor in Banxico’s reduced growth forecast is federal budget restrictions, which will limit the amount that public spending will contribute to Mexico’s 2025 GDP compared to recent years. (Isaac Esquivel/Cuartoscuro)

Rodríguez said the poor fourth-quarter performance induced a mathematical effect toward a lower base for growth, “reducing the GDP growth forecast.” Additionally, federal budget restrictions will limit the contributions that public spending has contributed toward productive activities in the recent past.

Banxico also cited tariff threats issued by U.S. President Donald Trump, saying this only adds to the uncertainty to Mexico’s economic panorama this year. However, the latest growth forecast does not include estimates related to such future trade-related effects.

“It would be premature to come to any conclusions with regard to such measures,” Rodríguez said. 

Just this week, Trump said he may impose 25% tariffs on all auto imports into the U.S. This came just a week after the U.S. president said he might levy 25% tariffs on auto imports from Mexico on top of 25% tariffs on global steel and aluminum imports.

Pamela Díaz, an economist in Mexico with the multinational bank BNP Paribas, said the uncertainty surrounding U.S. trade policy will likely cause private investment to stagnate throughout 2025, with resolution unlikely until next year. 

Banxico also mentioned risks for Mexico related to volatility in national and international financial markets while also warning about the possibility of an underperforming U.S. economy.

With reports from El Economista, El Financiero and América Economía

These 3 Mexican beaches are among the best in the world, according to Tripadvisor

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MND Staff
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A busy day on a Cancún beach, one of the best in Mexico according to TripAdvisor
Cancún tourists and locals alike love Playa Delfines, seen here on a busy day during the winter holidays. (Elizabeth Ruiz/Cuartoscuro)

Millions of travelers have voted three Mexican beaches to be among the 25 best beaches in the world, in Tripadvisor’s latest travel awards.

The Travellers’ Choice Awards Best of the Best list is based on the high volume of reviews and opinions by Tripadvisor’s community over a 12-month period. Out of 8 million listings, less than 1% get this recognition.

Playa Norte, on Isla Mujeres, one of the best Mexican beaches
At the north end of Isla Mujeres sits Playa Norte, a protected Caribbean beach with white sand and clear turquoise water. (File photo)

Playa Delfines in Cancún, Playa Norte in Isla Mujeres and Playa Balandra in La Paz, were among those which received the title thanks to the traveler’s high level of satisfaction.

“Tripadvisor’s Travelers Choice Awards uniquely reflect the voices of millions of global travelers and help guide people to plan their best trip yet,” head of the platform Kristen Dalton said. “The diversity of this year’s winners reflects all the things a trip to the beach can offer,” she celebrated.

In the category of Best of the Best Destinations, Cancún ranked as the world’s 24th best place to travel. It was the only Mexican destination on the list.

Playa Delfines, Cancún (No. 16)

Playa Delfines in Cancún, Quintana Roo is famous for El Mirador, a viewpoint offering stunning vistas of the turquoise waters, and its colorful block-lettered Cancún sign. It is the city’s largest public beach and one of the few without large resorts in the vicinity.

Palapas dot a white sand Caribbean beach in Cancún, voted one of the best in the world
On Playa Delfines in Cancún, visitors can take a break from the sun under the small palapas that dot the beach. (Tripadvisor)

“It is a peaceful beach with clear-blue waters, soft white sands, and stunning ocean views,” Tripadvisor wrote.

The beach is great for spotting dolphins and for water sports. It offers showers, bathrooms, straw umbrellas and free parking (a rarity in the city), “making it the perfect place to spend the day.”

Playa Norte, Isla Mujeres (No. 19)

“Soft, white sand and shallow, clear water makes Playa Norte a perfect spot for a relaxing beach day,” Tripadvisor says.

Also in Quintana Roo, Playa Norte is popular for its crystal-clear waters and palm trees. It’s a recommended destination for water activities like snorkeling, jet-skiing and parasailing. It is also home to bars and restaurants serving Mexican food.

“I highly recommend stopping at the beach here if you are in Isla Mujeres because it will be one of the best beaches you have ever been too [sic],” one reviewer writes.

Balandra Beach, La Paz (No. 21)

Balandra in La Paz, Baja California, is one of the Mexican beaches that consistently ranks among the best beaches in the world.

“This stunning cove is a favorite among locals who come to relax among the white sand dunes,” Tripadvisor wrote. The beach is great for water activities and for hiking in the adjacent rugged hills.

Playa Balandra in La Paz. The municipality plans to offer beach reservations through a new app.
Playa Balandra wraps around the the bay of the same name, just sound of La Paz, Baja California Sur. (File photo)

Travelers love this place due to its calm, shallow and crystal-clear waters that are perfect for beginners and families. However, many reviews advise to arrive early as it can get crowded.

“Otherworldly! Words and photos can’t really do it justice,” one traveler wrote in her review.

Mexico News Daily

Making friends with Mexicans: How to bust out of the Gringo ceiling

By
Louisa Rogers
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7
Three people laughing together
Life in Mexico is some much richer once you get out of the expat bubble. Here are some tried-and-tested tips on expanding your social horizons. (Omar Lopez/Unsplash)

I have a Mexican friend whom I met in a Pilates class in Guanajuato about eight years ago. Ever since the beginning of Covid, she and her husband have lived in Mexico City to be near their daughter, so I only see her occasionally. 

Since I miss her, I decided to write an article to find out how others do it. I had no idea I’d come away so inspired. If you have hesitated, It’s easier than you may think to make Mexican friends! Here are some of the ways that the gringos whom I interviewed overcame perceived barriers.  

They didn’t let limited Spanish stop them

(Brooke Cagle/Unsplash)

You don’t have to be fluent or even speak advanced Spanish to make friends. Of course it helps, but it doesn’t have to be an obstacle. Most of the responders described themselves as intermediate level, and two even said they were beginners. 

For example, Marvin, a Canadian who lives in Guanajuato, has Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. Although he has studied the language, he speaks “basically no Spanish. Because of my CFS, I haven’t been able to physically and mentally practice Spanish while working at my online tutoring job.” Instead, he works on overcoming the language barrier with his Mexican neighbor, by relying on the voice-activated translator on his cell phone.

Kate, an artist, speaks at an intermediate level. “In my language studies, I focus on vocabulary related to art and music, so that I can converse somewhat intelligently,” she says, “The language gap is challenging, but I’m working hard to close that.” 

Adam, a dancer who visits Guanajuato twice a year, says, “When my vocabulary falls short, I make up the word from my English and Latin knowledge, and that often works. I also use my hands in many situations. If all else fails, I just smile or laugh; it’s one of the best ways to communicate.” 

So don’t let limited Spanish stop you; on the other hand, keep plugging away on it. As Joshua, a musician in Guanajuato, says, “The cool thing about people here is that if they see you making an effort they really appreciate it.”

They ignore age and other barriers that frequently separate people 

Two people walking
(John Moeses Bauan/Unsplash)

Everyone I queried reported making friends with Mexicans of all ages. Mary Anne, who has lived in Queretaro for five years, has made several acquaintances through a course she takes on the history of the city. “Several of my current classmates are 15 to 20 years older than I,” she says. And a close friend who is married to an American is 12 years younger than she is. 

Guanajuato resident Dave meets Mexicans at a neighborhood cantina, where the age range is from 20’s to 80’s. The clientele, who are mostly men but a few women, include miners, engineers, lawyers, university professors, business owners, artists, and even a guy who washes cars in a parking lot nearby.  

From that group, he made a good friend who is half his age. They get together regularly for a drink or a meal, and last November, they visited Arizona, where Dave still lives part of the year. Dave took him to the Grand Canyon, Sedona and other famous areas, as well as introduced him to his friends.” He speaks no English, Dave says, “so as his translator, it was good for my Spanish.”

They take courses and workshops

(Artemio Guerra Baz/Cuartoscuro)

Beth, who lives in Marfil, a suburb of Guanajuato, takes a yoga class where at the beginning of each session, participants go around greeting each other one by one. They do the same thing at the end. “It makes us all approachable,” she says. 

Adam meets people in salsa classes. Both the teachers and fellow students became friends quickly.  “Dancing is a very social activity,” he says, “and the level or type of dancing is immaterial.”

Jenny made a close friend when she was studying at a Spanish school, which also offered English classes to Mexicans. 

For many, their love of the arts is a bridge

Millesime festival in San Miguel de Allende
(Millesime)

A songwriter and guitar player, Joshua found friends in Guanajuato’s music world. “We have a band, so we gig and rehearse. My bandmates, in addition to being stellar musicians, are all great guys and I love having them as my friends.” His musician friends have, in turn, introduced him to other people.

Guanajuato residents Peter and Faith became friends with their US/Mexican neighbors, who, in turn, introduced them to many creatives. A film director, Peter produced a fashion show and film featuring a number of local designers. “Many of our friends were either cast or crew on the feature film,” says Faith. We’ve participated in making and distributing our friends’ films. Everyone shares equipment. We show up to their events — exhibitions, fundraisers, screenings, their girlfriend’s dance recital, their family’s funerals.”.

“The arts,” she says, is a social class [in itself], aside from the usual lower, middle and upper classes.”

They made friends with people they had hired

A woman cleaning
(CDC/Unsplash)

Unlike in the U.S., where the saying goes “You can’t mix pleasure and business,” here gringos do just that, and it works just fine. Respondents said they made friends with their Spanish teachers, hairdressers, massage therapists, realtors, and property managers.  

They just start chatting

(John Pint)

Mexicans are so friendly that several people reported they found it easy to start a conversation while waiting in line or sitting on a bus. At an outdoor restaurant, Adam asked a mom who was playing with her toddler if he could take a photo of them. They started talking, shared contact information and over time he and his wife became friends not only with her but with her parents.  

Final advice

“Give genuine compliments whenever possible, speak Spanish regardless of your level of competency, throw out class/education/age distinctions, and above all smile a lot,” says Adam. 

“Don’t get caught up in the gringo trap,” says Dave. “I’ve worked at assimilating into the culture, and now my friends tell me I’m mexicano.“ He adds, “Laugh at your mistakes. Mexicans have a great sense of humor and love to tease each other.”

Several respondents feel as close to their Mexican friends as to English-language ones. Adam says, “My wife and I find our Mexican friends to often be less judgmental, curious, very honest, and loyal. We haven’t noticed any hidden agendas with any of them.”

Above all, as Kate says, “Be brave.” It’s worth it!

Louisa Rogers and her husband Barry Evans divide their lives between Guanajuato and Eureka, on California’s North Coast. Louisa writes articles and essays about expat life, Mexico, travel, physical and psychological health, retirement and spirituality. Her recent articles are on her website, https://authory.com/LouisaRogers

No fear of Trump: Wednesday’s mañanera recapped

By
MND Staff
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7
Mexico's President Claudia Sheinbaum at her daily press conference. She is holding up a finger as she makes a point to reporters behind a podium in the National Palace press briefing room
President Claudia Sheinbaum had many pressing topics to cover, many of them due to actions of U.S. President Donald Trump. (Andrea Murcia/Cuartoscuro)

At her Wednesday morning press conference, President Claudia Sheinbaum spoke about CIA drone flights over Mexico, the reasons why she is not afraid of Donald Trump and the United States’ designation of various Mexican drug cartels as foreign terrorist organizations.

Later in the day, Sheinbaum traveled to the northern state of Nuevo León to take part in a Mexican Army Day ceremony.

Mexico's President Claudia Sheinbaum at her daily press conference gesturing outward with her right hand while talking to reporters behind a podium at the National Palace.
“There is nothing illegal [going on],” President Sheinbaum told reporters when asked about recent revelations by news media that the CIA is conducting spy drone flights over Mexico. (Andrea Murcia/Cuartoscuro)

Sheinbaum: US drone flights a part of long-standing security collaboration between Mexico and US

A day after CNN network and the New York Times newspaper reported that the United States Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) has been flying drones over Mexico to spy on drug cartels and hunt for fentanyl labs, Sheinbaum said that the missions are an aspect of the long-standing security collaboration between Mexico and the U.S.

“In the first place, there is nothing illegal [taking place]. What there is, is collaboration and cooperation that has been going on for many years; it’s not something new,” she said.

The U.S. drone flights over Mexico only occur after the government of Mexico has requested them in order to obtain information to be able to respond to prevailing “security conditions,” Sheinbaum said.

The flights occur within the “frameworks of collaboration that are established mainly between the armed forces of Mexico and the different institutions of the United States government,” she said.

“So there is nothing illegal, and it’s part of a collaboration and coordination in which information is shared, always within the framework of the four essential principles of collaboration between the United States and Mexico, among which a main element is respect for our sovereignty,” she said.

Mexico's Navy Minister Raymundo Morales Àngles stands behind the presidential podium speaking to reporters at President Sheinbaum's daily press conference.
Sheinbaum also gave the floor to Navy Minister Raymundo Morales Àngles to talk to reporters about how the drone flights fit into Mexico and the U.S.’s long-standing partnerships. (Andrea Murcia/Cuartoscuro)

“Now the question is: “Why does this article appear in The New York Times?” Sheinbaum said.

“Who gave this article to The New York Times?,” she said. “What do they want to provoke with the article? And [then there are] all the chorus leaders in the Mexican media  — or in the opposition — saying, ‘The president of Mexico is weak. She had to yield to the espionage of the United States government. Sovereignty is being violated,’ when in reality it’s a protocol of coordination and collaboration that has existed for years between the governments of the United States and Mexico.”

Asked why she believes The New York Times published the article about the CIA drones, Sheinbaum responded, “Because they want to damage us.”

She claimed that the aim was to make the Mexican government appear “as if we were negotiating national sovereignty.”

“Never. And they’re not going to damage us because the people of Mexico and the government are one. There is no divorce here, and we never lie,” Sheinbaum said.

No fear of Trump  

“Aren’t you afraid of Trump?” a Brazil-based Swedish journalist asked the president after highlighting that there are “so many threats” from the U.S. president, including ones to deport large numbers of Mexicans and impose tariffs on Mexican exports.

“No,” Sheinbaum responded.

“I have the people [of Mexico] behind me. When one has certainty and conviction and knows what one’s principles are, why should one be afraid?” she said.

Sheinbaum noted that her government is currently engaging with its U.S. counterpart, including over proposed tariffs, and declared that “we will never allow our sovereignty to be violated.”

President Claudia Sheinbaum behind the presidential podium at the National Palace speaking about US-Mexico relations
Faced with questions about the U.S. drone flights over Mexico, Sheinbaum instead put the focus on the New York Times, which published the revelations. She said that the newspaper had an agenda to make it look like Mexico is “negotiating national sovereignty.” (Andrea Murcia/Cuartoscuro)

“And if it is violated, there is an entire people [ready] to defend their homeland,” she said.

Earlier in the press conference, Sheinbaum reiterated her view that “there will be a good relationship between President Trump and the presidenta of Mexico.”

Mexico will not accept ‘extraterritorial actions’ from US in light of the designation of cartels as terrorists 

While Sheinbaum is not opposed to the flying of CIA drones over Mexico, she has said on numerous occasions that she wouldn’t accept any kind of U.S. military intervention on Mexican soil.

On Wednesday, she declared that if the United States’ designation of Mexican cartels as foreign terrorist organizations (FTOs) “has to do with extraterritorial actions, we will not accept those.”

The United States government has designated six Mexican cartels as FTOs, according to a public notice from the Department of State. The designations of the Sinaloa Cartel, the Jalisco New Generation Cartel, the United Cartels, the Northeast Cartel, the Gulf Cartel and La Nueva Familia Michoacana as FTOs will take effect on Thursday once the notice is published in the United States Federal Register.

On February 15, the U.S. conducted a precision airstrike to kill an official with the Syrian al-Quaeda affiliate terrorist group Hurras al-Din. Is the U.S. prepared to conduct these types of attacks on Mexican soil to capture or even kill cartel leaders? Sheinbaum said Mexico would not tolerate “extraterritorial actions” by the U.S.

If the designations are made to further support investigations of money laundering in the United States and the operation of the designated criminal groups in the U.S. then the move is a “very good” one, Sheinbaum said.

“What we don’t accept is the violation of our sovereignty,” she added.

“That’s why it’s collaboration, coordination without subordination, without interventionism, without interference,” Sheinbaum said.

She noted that the government of former president Andrés Manuel López Obrador modified Mexico’s National Security Law to make it “very clear” what “United States agents” can and can’t do in Mexico.

“And we’re evaluating, assessing, what additional things [are required] to protect our sovereignty because we can’t allow activities to be carried out [by the United States in Mexico] that aren’t part of the [bilateral] collaboration or coordination,” Sheinbaum said.

By Mexico News Daily chief staff writer Peter Davies ([email protected])

Dos Mares project seeks to establish new Baja California Sur marine reserve

By
MND Staff
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2
Seal swimming in crystal clear blue waters of the Gulf of California, surrounded by rocky outcrops.
A seal swimming in the Gulf of California, one of the two bodies of water that the proposed marine reserve would occupy. (Government of Mexico)

A coalition of environmental groups and local fishermen is continuing its push for the creation of a new Marine Protected Area off the coast of Baja California Sur (BCS), aiming to conserve marine ecosystems and support sustainable fishing practices.

The proposed Dos Mares (Two Seas) Biosphere Reserve would cover approximately 192,000 square kilometers, stretching from the BCS coastline to 50 miles offshore in both the Pacific Ocean and the southern Gulf of California (aka, the Sea of Cortés).

map showing the proposed area around the coastline of the Baja California Peninsula where the proposed Dos Mares Biosphere Reserve would be located.
The proposed reserves would create a zone around the Baja California Peninsula where only small-scale traditional coastal fishing, sport fishing and other water tourism activities would be allowed (shown in green on the map). The brown area indicates where all activities would be prohibited. (Depesca)

Proponents say the reserve would help Mexico meet international conservation commitments while protecting local livelihoods.

“This is not our project. It is a project of the people,” Gabriela Gómez, director of the Fund for the Conservation of the Seas (FOMARES), said this week in the news magazine Expansíón ESG.

The plan was developed by DEPESCA, a 2-year-old marine association in BCS whose name is likely derived from desarrollo pesquero (fisheries development).

“In our state, what we have called a ‘Coastal Wave’ has formed,” DEPESCA writes on its website. “This is an unprecedented event, since for the first time artisanal and sport fishermen, aquaculturists and nautical tourism service providers are joining forces to defend our marine heritage.”

Dos Mares supporters argue the reserve would benefit the region economically. According to the La Paz newspaper El Sudcaliforniano, a study by researchers at the Colegio de México projected the MPA could lead to a 7.68% increase in real income for the local economy, driven by increased tourism and improved fishing productivity.

However, the proposal faces opposition from some coastal fishing communities. Tomás Camacho, president of the Puerto Chale Fishing Cooperative Society, expressed concern that the reserve could impose additional restrictions on traditional fishing practices.

Five coastal fishermen on a row boat in Baja California Sur pulling in black nets in the water.
The initiative to create the reserve is a joint effort by environmental groups and traditional coastal fishermen in the state, whose scale of fishing is considered sustainable. But not all fishermen in the region support the initiative. (Government of BCS)

“They tell us the same thing as always, that shrimp boats will not be able to enter and that the Don Diego Mine will be off-limits too,” Camacho told El Sudcaliforniano.

Don Diego is a proposed underwater, phosphate dredging project about 40 kilometers off the BCS coast that was denied environmental permits twice, in 2016 and 2018, by Mexico’s environmental agency, SEMARNAT. Five months ago, the company behind the project, Odyssey Marine Exploration, won a judgment of more than US $37.1 million against the Mexico government from the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes, though Mexican authorities defend their decisions to withdraw the permits based on environmental concerns and vowed to fight the ruling.

Proponents of Dos Mares say it would help preserve biodiversity and support migratory species by creating corridors connecting existing protected areas.

Launched in mid-2023, the project is still in the proposal and advocacy stage. Current efforts are focused on gaining support from local communities, government officials and other stakeholders.

The proposed reserve would potentially increase Mexico’s marine protected areas from 5% to 12% of the nation’s Exclusive Economic Zone, a 3.27-million-kilometer maritime area (ranked the thirteenth largest in the world) that contributes significantly to the country’s territory and resources.

Advocates are hoping that President Claudia Sheinbaum’s background in sustainable development may positively influence the project’s prospects.

With reports from Expansíon ESG and El Sudcaliforniano

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