International

López Obrador asks Biden and Trump to “not blame Mexico” for migration in the debate

The president of Mexico, Andrés Manuel López Obrador, asked “not to blame Mexico” for the migration in the debate that the president of the United States, Joe Biden, and his rival, former ruler Donald Trump (2017-2021), will have this Thursday, stating that “there is no serious problem.”

“Let them know how the immigration situation is today on the northern border so that the migration issue is not used as a pretext, with the desire to blame Mexico for blaming Mexico and wanting to look good with the citizens of the United States, with all respect for the two candidates,” López Obrador requested at his morning conference.

His statements are made hours before the debate that will be broadcast by CNN that is unprecedented because it occurs before the conventions of both parties, which formalize the nominations for the presidential race, will not be organized by the Presidential Debate Commission, and will not have an audience.

The Mexican ruler predicted that one of the central issues will be migration, but asked to consider that the arrests of migrants on the United States border with Mexico have fallen by more than 72%, to 3,479 on June 25, from 12,498 on December 18, the highest point of last year.

“If the issue of migration is dealt with, let it be acted objectively and with attachment to the truth. Currently there is no serious problem in migration and both of us, both former President Trump and President Biden, know that we have insisted on addressing the causes of migration and we have been doing what we are rightful,” he said.

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López Obrador argued that migration has decreased because his Government has reached agreements with expelling countries such as Ecuador, Venezuela, Cuba and Haiti.

He also said that the migration of Mexicans has fallen because the United States has an unemployment rate of 3.9% and Mexico one of 2.7%, according to his data, so “there are not so many anymore.”

“Mexico collaborates because we want to have a good-neighbourly relationship with the United States and we have achieved it, but as the debates come, there is the temptation to blame, but this is the reality,” he said.

The meeting will take place just over four months after the United States elections, in which migration on the border with Mexico is a central issue and the winner will deal with the next Mexican president, Claudia Sheinbaum, who will take over on October 1 with the promise to continue López Obrador’s policy.

“It is very important to see the debate, although it is about the United States, they are our neighbors, 40 million Mexicans live in the United States, we are the main trading partners in the world, we share many kilometers of border,” he said.

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International

German president warns Iran war could spread and disrupt Strait of Hormuz

The president of Germany, Frank-Walter Steinmeier, warned Monday that the war involving Iran could expand and further disrupt shipping through the strategic Strait of Hormuz. He urged a swift end to hostilities between Iran, United States and Israel.

Speaking in Panama City during a joint appearance with Panamanian President José Raúl Mulino, Steinmeier said available information suggests Iran has significant capacity to disrupt maritime traffic through the key oil route.

“Iran has considerable potential to interfere with shipping through the Strait of Hormuz,” Steinmeier said through an interpreter. “We should therefore reach an end to the hostilities as soon as possible and call on all parties involved to make that happen.”

The remarks came during Steinmeier’s visit to Panama, the first by a German president to the Central American nation.

The German leader described the possibility of the conflict spreading as “very dangerous,” saying recent developments indicate that such a scenario cannot be ruled out.

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Over the weekend, U.S. President Donald Trump urged allied nations to help ensure safe passage for ships through the Strait of Hormuz after Iran moved to block the waterway in response to U.S. strikes. However, several allies—particularly in Europe—have shown little support for the proposal.

“Some are very enthusiastic, others are not, and some are countries we have helped for many years,” Trump told reporters at the White House. “We have protected them from terrible external threats, and they’re not that enthusiastic. And the level of enthusiasm is important to me.”

Meanwhile, Kaja Kallas, the European Union’s top diplomat, said the Strait of Hormuz falls “outside NATO’s scope” and stressed that “the war involving Iran is not Europe’s war.”

International

Mexico security chief meets DEA director in Washington to boost anti-drug cooperation

Mexico’s Secretary of Security and Citizen Protection, Omar García Harfuch, met in Washington with the head of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, Terrance Cole, to discuss cooperation in the fight against drug trafficking and illegal arms flows.

The Mexican official said Monday on social media that he attended the meeting in representation of the Mexican government’s Security Cabinet.

“In Washington, D.C., I represented the Security Cabinet to hold talks with DEA Director Terrance Cole on the importance of strengthening bilateral cooperation to combat drug trafficking, curb the flow of weapons into our country, and reduce violence in Mexico through significant arrests,” García Harfuch wrote.

He added that, following instructions from Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum, the government will continue strengthening international cooperation on security matters.

For his part, Cole said the meeting focused on cross-border collaboration to tackle drug trafficking and to build safer communities on both sides of the border.

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The meeting comes as Mexico and the United States begin a new round of dialogue on economic and security issues.

Earlier Monday, President Claudia Sheinbaum said she will look for the “best moment” to meet with U.S. President Donald Trump, adding that maintaining a good relationship with Washington is a priority for her administration.

International

Venezuela’s foreign minister accuses UN rights chief of “immoral bias”

Venezuelan Foreign Minister Yván Gil criticized the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, accusing him of having an “immoral bias” and acting as an “echo chamber for falsehoods” regarding the situation in Venezuela.

Gil’s remarks came after Türk stated that his office had not received an official list from Venezuelan authorities detailing the release of political prisoners, nor authorization to carry out visits related to the issue.

“The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights insists on a narrative biased against our country, repeating unfounded accusations while deliberately omitting the impact of unilateral coercive measures on the rights of the Venezuelan people,” Gil said in a message posted on his Telegram channel.

Without directly addressing the question of prisoner releases, the Venezuelan foreign minister also accused Türk of aligning with what he described as the “agenda of extremism in Venezuela.”

Gil added that, despite serious human rights violations occurring in other parts of the world, the UN official has chosen to maintain what he described as an “immoral bias” against Venezuela.

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The criticism is part of a broader dispute between the Venezuelan government and the UN human rights office over reports and investigations concerning the human rights situation in the country.