La Derecha Diario Sheinbaum will receive the new ambassador Ron Johnson next Monday at the National Palace.
The new ambassador arrived in Mexico on Thursday, May 15, in a clear message to Mexico from Trump's administration
The arrival of the new U.S. ambassador, Ronald Johnson, is no coincidence. Appointed by the Donald Trump administration, his profile seems a clear message to the government of Claudia Sheinbaum, that Washingtondoesn't trust the Mexican strategy against organized crime.
The president announced that next Monday she will briefly meet with Johnson at the National Palace. The meeting will also include other diplomats who will present their credentials. Sheinbaum stated that the meeting will be general in nature, focused on "coordination between partners and friendly countries."
No intention to talk about drug trafficking
Although the context demands answers, Sheinbaum avoided stating that she will talk about drug trafficking. She also did not mention anything about the controversial case of the alleged negotiation of the United States with the drug lord Ovidio Guzmán to protect his relatives.
"There will be other opportunities," she said, leaving the matter in the hands of the Foreign Minister Juan Ramón de la Fuente. However, the silence is eloquent. The absence of a firm stance raises doubts about the real commitment of the Morena government against drug trafficking.
The position that Johnson assumes had been vacant since the departure of Ken Salazar, ambassador during the Joe Biden administration. Salazar maintained a tense relationship with the López Obrador governments and had clashes with Sheinbaum. His departure left a space that Trump took advantage of to appoint a much tougher profile.
Ex-CIA and Green Beret: Diplomat or agent?
Ronald Johnson is not just any diplomat. He has 20 years in the CIA and experience in U.S. Army special forces.
His record is clear, as he is an expert in covert operations, military strategy, and transnational crime fighting. His tenure as ambassador to El Salvador during Trump's first term showed his closeness to strong leaders like Nayib Bukele.
The arrival of Johnson coincides with a controversial operation in Sinaloa. ICE boasted of having dismantled three clandestine drug labs, in coordination with Mexican forces "certified" by the U.S. agency itself.
Both the U.S. Embassy in Mexico and Sheinbaum assured that the images were false and that there are no U.S. agents operating in the country. However, the statement is not entirely convincing.
Growing distrust from Washington
The Trump administration seems determined to take action. Mexico has been unable to stop the advance of drug trafficking, and Morena in particular, has shown a concerning passivity in the face of the crisis.
With Johnson, the United States could be preparing a more direct strategy, regardless of the decisions made by the National Palace.
The distrust toward the Morena government is evident. The new ambassador is not coming to Mexico to have coffee and chat: he is coming to observe, pressure... and act if necessary.
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