The United States ambassador to Mexico criticized the decisions taken by Andrés Manuel López Obrador during his administration in matters of security and assured that his strategy of “hugs not bullets” did not work
The United States ambassador to Mexico, Ken Salazar, criticized in a press conference the management of former President Andrés Manuel López Obrador in matters of security since he stated that he did not accept help from the neighboring country to receive an amount of up to 32 million dollars.
During the press conference held on Wednesday, November 13, Ken Salazar spoke about the security that plagues both nations, especially in matters of drug and arms trafficking.
“The previous president did not want to receive support from the United States. He closed the door to investments of over 32 million dollars because he did not want that investment to come to Mexico to help with the security of the Mexican people,” said Ken Salazar.
He also commented that during the six-year term of Andrés Manuel López Obrador, he told him that his policy of Republican austerity did not benefit the security of the country, since it could worsen it.
“When we talk about Republican austerity, in the matter of security, it is the same thing as saying it in English: Do not put the effort into supporting the police, so what happens? That the police turn to corruption because they are not given enough to live on,” said the ambassador.
Ken Salazar commented that the result of the elections in the United States is due to a combination of circumstances, such as the fear of the entry of fentanyl into the nation, which is why he said it is given in the face of the uncertainty of Mexico’s actions in this matter.
“That is what scares one, that there will not be the investment that is required here in Mexico to truly reach a time when the insecurity that exists will be resolved.”
In this context, the American ambassador explained that he also made a framework for the bicentennial of security for both nations, which established the delivery of 22 million dollars for Mexico, but it was paused during the last six-year term.
“The strategy of hugs not bullets did not work. The part of the concept that is valid is prevention, but those are programs that must continue, and it is something that we support from the United States (…) The other side is complying with the law, and that is where when they say nothing more than ‘well there is no problem’, we have these figures that tell the people that there is no problem. It is not based on reality, the reality is that the people of Mexico (…) do not live in security and that has to be seen very clearly,” he commented.
Finally, Ken Salazar assured that the president-elect of the United States, Donald Trump, will have to engage in conversations with President Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo, who will have to take legal action against crime; however, he said he trusts the security plan proposed by the Mexican president.
San Miguel Times
Newsroom
