International
López Obrador recognizes drug production in Mexico and blames the United States for the consumption
The president of Mexico, Andrés Manuel López Obrador, acknowledged on Tuesday that there are “crime groups” that produce drugs in the country, although he blamed the United States because its consumption is “increasingly” higher.
“The causes have to be addressed (in the United States) and this will also help us a lot because here there are crime groups that are dedicated to the production of drugs,” he said in the celebration of the fifth anniversary of the National Guard (GN), a body that he conceived in 2019.
However, he warned that “as long as there is consumption as happens, and more and more, in the United States, more problems” occur in Mexico to “confront organized crime” that traffics in drugs.
This is one of the first times that the president, who will replace the presidency of Claudia Sheinbaum on October 1, recognizes the production of narcotics by Mexican cartels.
In fact, at the end of March he stated that there is “very little fentanyl” made in Mexico, after he denied for years the information of the United States Anti-Drug Agency (DEA), which maintains that this narcotic is produced in the country with chemical precursors from Asia.
“We must convince, because we are brothers and good neighbors, Americans so that they address the causes that cause the high consumption of drugs they have,” he recommended to the agents of the GN and a good part of his presidential Cabinet.
He stressed that this situation leads to “very unfortunate” circumstances in the United States, such as the death of young people from overdose, especially due to the consumption of the “terrible drug of fentanyl.”
“What we have to try is that young people do not come out of the families so young, that this custom is revised,” López Obrador suggested.
So he was committed to “helping in any way possible” from Mexico.
On the other hand, the current president described how his administration is “confronting the scourge of violence” with measures such as the daily celebration of the Security Cabinet or the creation of the GN, which López Obrador wants to integrate into the Secretariat of National Defense (Sedena).
One of its controversial constitutional reforms announced in February was already attempted in September 2022 with a legal change to include the GN in the Sedena and that, subsequently, was invalidated by the Supreme Court of Justice of the Nation (SCJN).
During the creation of the Guard, it was established that the body of 130,000 agents should be in charge of the Secretariat of Security and Citizen Protection (SSPC).
“It is progressing, not as we would like, but we must take into account that it is a very aggravated evil because they left it for a long time without attention,” he acknowledged.
He opined that, since his entry into the National Palace, the causes that originate violence are being “advered” through different policies, such as “guaranteeing” universal access to health and “that there is social security.”
Also, López Obrador demanded to “take care” that drug use does not grow within Mexico, now “very focused” in some areas, and appealed to the original cultures, the “protective shield” of society, to carry it out.
“Mexicans, I say this with all respect, are not vicious or prone to drugs,” he said.
Central America
U.S. and Regional Allies Back Panama Amid Dispute With China
The United States, Bolivia, Costa Rica, Guyana, Paraguay and Trinidad and Tobago issued a joint statement in support of Panama’s sovereignty, arguing that China’s recent actions represent an attempt to politicize maritime trade and undermine the sovereignty of nations in the hemisphere.
“We are closely monitoring China’s selective economic pressure and recent actions affecting vessels flying the Panamanian flag,” the statement released Tuesday said. “Panama is a pillar of our maritime trading system and, as such, must remain free from undue external pressure.”
The statement comes amid growing tensions surrounding the Panama Canal and the operation of key ports linked to global trade.
At the end of January, Panama’s Supreme Court invalidated the legal framework supporting the 1997 concession that granted Panama Ports Company, a subsidiary of CK Hutchison, the right to operate the Balboa and Cristóbal terminals located on the Pacific and Atlantic entrances of the Panama Canal.
The ruling followed mounting pressure from the United States to curb Chinese influence around the strategic waterway, through which roughly 5% of global maritime trade passes.
CK Hutchison, which managed the ports for nearly three decades, rejected the court’s decision and accused Panamanian authorities of illegally confiscating its assets. The company has launched international arbitration proceedings against Panama, seeking more than $2 billion in damages.
Following the court ruling, reports emerged of increased detentions and inspections of Panamanian-flagged vessels in China, actions widely viewed as retaliatory measures.
On Wednesday, China’s Foreign Ministry dismissed the joint statement as “completely unfounded and misleading,” accusing the United States of politicizing port operations and warning that Beijing would take steps to protect its interests in Panama.
International
King Charles III Says U.S.-UK Alliance Is “Irreplaceable and Unbreakable”
King Charles III of the United Kingdom reaffirmed the strength of the British-American relationship on Tuesday during a speech before the United States Congress, describing the alliance between the two nations as “irreplaceable and unbreakable.”
The address, delivered at the Capitol, marked the first speech by a British monarch before Congress since Queen Elizabeth II in 1991 and comes at a time of political tensions between Donald Trump’s administration and the Labour government of Prime Minister Keir Starmer.
“As President Trump himself observed during his state visit to Britain last autumn, the bond of kinship and identity between the United States and the United Kingdom is invaluable and eternal. It is irreplaceable and unbreakable,” the king said.
While reflecting on the upcoming 250th anniversary of U.S. independence, which will be commemorated this year, Charles III stated that the partnership between the two countries “was born out of disagreement, but is no less strong because of it.”
The monarch emphasized the democratic values shared by both nations and noted that major global changes have occurred whenever the two allies found common ground.
“When we have found that way to agree, great changes have taken place not only for the benefit of our peoples, but for all peoples,” he said.
King Charles also quoted British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who recently described the relationship as “an indispensable alliance.”
Concluding his speech, the monarch described the shared history of the United States and the United Kingdom as “a story of reconciliation, renewal, and an extraordinary partnership.”
He added that Washington and London have forged “one of the most consequential alliances in human history.”
“I pray with all my heart that our alliance continues to defend our shared values, together with our partners in Europe, the Commonwealth, and around the world, and that we ignore calls urging us to become increasingly isolationist,” Charles III stated.
The king ended by urging both nations to “recommit to one another in selfless service to our peoples and to all peoples of the world.”
International
Trump Administration Considers Denying Green Cards Over Political Views
The administration of President Donald Trump is evaluating new immigration guidelines that could deny permanent residency to immigrants based on their political views, according to a report published by The New York Times.
The proposed measures, outlined in internal Department of Homeland Security documents, would instruct immigration officials to take applicants’ public expressions and ideological positions into account when reviewing green card applications.
According to the report, cases involving “possible anti-American and/or antisemitic conduct or ideologies” would need to be referred to higher authorities for additional review.
Even if applicants have not violated any laws, authorities could still reject residency requests if they determine that individuals have “endorsed, promoted, or supported anti-American views.”
Among the factors listed in the guidelines are participation in pro-Palestinian activities, actions considered antisemitic, and the burning of the U.S. flag.
The documents reportedly describe such actions as “heavily negative” factors in immigration evaluations, potentially blocking applicants from obtaining permanent residency and, eventually, U.S. citizenship.
The directives also place particular attention on demonstrations held on university campuses following the 2023 Hamas attacks against Israel.
However, flag burning has previously been recognized by the U.S. Supreme Court as a form of protected free speech under the Constitution.
The proposal has sparked criticism from immigrant advocacy organizations, including the New York Immigration Coalition.
Its president, Murad Awawdeh, warned that the policies could pose a threat to fundamental rights and freedoms.
U.S. and Regional Allies Back Panama Amid Dispute With China
International Project Tackles Gender Violence in Indigenous Communities in Panama
King Charles III Says U.S.-UK Alliance Is “Irreplaceable and Unbreakable”
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