President Claudia Sheinbaum’s assertion that the United States is interfering in affairs that correspond solely to the Mexican people and authorities continues to be a dominant topic in the national conversation.

On Wednesday, former President Andrés Manuel López Obrador (AMLO) — Sheinbaum’s predecessor and political mentor — entered that conversation by publishing his thoughts on the prevailing situation.

At today’s mañanera, Sheinbaum acknowledged AMLO’s words of support, and also noted that U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin spoke on Wednesday about the need to respect Mexico’s sovereignty.

Amid the fallout from the United States alleged interference in Mexico — including via the CIA’s alleged participation in a drug lab raid in Chihuahua and by indicting sitting politicians — the president’s remarks on the topic, including those she made at today’s mañanera, are of great interest and significance.

Sheinbaum thanks AMLO for his support 

Sheinbaum read out the statement AMLO released on Wednesday under the heading “My Unconditional Support for President Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo and a Respectful Reflection on President Donald Trump.”

In the statement, López Obrador claims that “some United States officials are plotting to weaken Morena and strengthen the right-wing opposition in Mexico,” and asserts that “the Trump of today is different from the one I dealt with” and that the U.S. president is being unduly influenced by “false friends and advisers.”

He also calls Sheinbaum “the best president of Mexico of our time.”

Sheinbaum said she was “enormously” grateful for López Obrador’s support.

“And what he says about me is the truth,” she added.

Sheinbaum highlights Mullin’s remarks about Mexican sovereignty

Sheinbaum noted that U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin, who visited Mexico last month, made remarks about Mexican sovereignty on Wednesday.

“I just recently returned from Mexico City, speaking with President Sheinbaum and her cabinet about the [security] cooperation and I will tell you we’ve been impressed. They’ve been very cooperative, way more cooperative than the last administration, but they still believe in their sovereignty and we have to respect that,” Mullin said during an appearance before a U.S. congressional committee.

 

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Sheinbaum — a staunch defender of Mexican sovereignty — told reporters that after she read Mullin’s remarks, she said: “Hey, that’s great, that’s great.”

‘The people’ — not US authorities — elect and remove authorities in Mexico, says Sheinbaum 

Sheinbaum reiterated her view that the Mexican people — and only the Mexican people — have the right to elect and remove authorities in Mexico.

“Of course, if there are [criminal] complaints against any official, any public servant in Mexico, they are investigated,” she added.

“… If there is a complaint … [supported by] proof, the official is arrested,” Sheinbaum said.

The president’s remarks are related to the United States’ request that Sinaloa Governor Rubén Rocha Moya and other current and former Sinaloa-based officials, including the mayor of Culiacán and a Morena party senator, be arrested for the purpose of extradition to the U.S. to face drug trafficking charges.

Sheinbaum has endorsed the Federal Attorney General’s Office’s view that the United States has not provided sufficient evidence to warrant the suspects’ arrest.

During a forceful speech at a rally in Mexico City on Sunday, she said that her government “cannot allow” the U.S. Department of Justice to become “the primary elector in Mexico.”

By Mexico News Daily chief staff writer Peter Davies (peter.davies@mexiconewsdaily.com)