Claudia Sheinbaum Responds to U.S. Deal with Ovidio Guzmán

Mexico City, Mexico – President Claudia Sheinbaum said she was not informed by the United States about a recent deal involving Ovidio Guzmán, the son of notorious drug lord Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán. The president expressed concerns over the lack of official communication from the U.S. government regarding the agreement.

Amid rising diplomatic tensions, Sheinbaum criticized the U.S. for negotiating with individuals classified as terrorist organizations. She cautioned that such classifications should not be used as a pretext for military intervention in Mexico.

Her remarks, highlighted in journalist Raymundo Riva Palacio’s column, revealed a confused and reactive response to U.S. policies that could seriously jeopardize national stability. According to Riva Palacio, the deal reportedly includes protection for 17 members of Guzmán’s family, suggesting it carries significant strategic implications for the U.S. government.

This claim has sparked doubts about the true nature of the agreement and the potential revelations in U.S. courts regarding links between drug trafficking and current regime figures. A key question arises: Is Sheinbaum worried about what Ovidio Guzmán might disclose?

Sheinbaum also criticized a Republican proposal to impose a 5% tax on remittances sent from the U.S., a vital financial lifeline for millions of Mexican families. However, Riva Palacio noted that Mexico already imposes taxes on certain remittances, a detail Sheinbaum overlooked in her criticism.

The impending vote on the remittance tax on May 26 is aimed at funding increased border security measures. While Mexico protests, the outcome is entirely dependent on the U.S. political context.

Columnists, including Salvador Camarena and Germán Martínez, suggest that Sheinbaum’s stance appears erratic amid these key events. Riva Palacio raised a troubling hypothesis: Could Sheinbaum be pretending to be uninformed to shield herself from potential fallout involving close allies of former President Andrés Manuel López Obrador?

This risky maneuver could give her some leverage in maintaining power over the medium term, despite escalating political tensions.