El País says U.S. pressure on Mexico will continue
Original reporting: El País México
What happened
An El País México opinion article argued that U.S. criticism of Mexico’s security and cartel policies is bipartisan and unlikely to end after the November 3 elections. It urged Mexico’s government to prepare for continued pressure.
Reporting and context
Mexico’s security and drug-trafficking disputes with the United States are unlikely to end after the November 3 congressional elections, an opinion article in El País México argued. The article said Mexico’s government has treated President Donald Trump’s criticism as an electoral tactic that could soften if Democrats win control of one or both chambers of Congress.
According to El País México, that expectation overlooks the bipartisan nature of U.S. concern about cartel influence in Mexico. The article cited Democratic lawmakers Bob Menendez and Sheldon Whitehouse, who warned that Mexican politicians protect cartels and that cartel profits are used to bribe police and politicians.
El País reported that U.S. actions such as Justice Department accusations against Mexican politicians do not require congressional approval, while Democratic opposition to possible military action would not necessarily extend to criticism of anti-cartel allegations. The article also pointed to the 2024 capture of Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada under President Joe Biden as an example of a major Mexico-related operation carried out under a Democratic administration.
The column argued that Mexico’s government has failed to counter the U.S. narrative effectively in Washington, Congress and diplomatic forums. It concluded that President Claudia Sheinbaum and her team should prepare for the rhetoric to continue after the election.