International

José Mujica apologizes for “crude” comments about Cristina Kirchner, urges peronist renewal

Former Uruguayan President José Mujica acknowledged on Monday that his comments about Argentina’s ex-president Cristina Kirchner, made during an AFP interview, were “crude” and “not at all diplomatic.” Mujica criticized Kirchner for not stepping aside to allow new generations to lead but reiterated the need for renewal within the Peronist movement.

“The terminology was not diplomatic at all—it was crude,” Mujica told the Uruguayan newspaper La Diaria. He was referring to remarks about Kirchner, who served as president from 2007 to 2015 and as vice president from 2019 to 2023.

“There’s old Kirchner in Argentina, still leading Peronism. Instead of becoming an elder advisor and letting new generations take over, no, she’s still meddling. How hard it is for them to let go of the cake! Damn it!” Mujica had said in the AFP interview published last Friday.

Mujica, an 89-year-old former guerrilla fighter and global leftist icon who served as Uruguay’s president from 2010 to 2015, emphasized to La Diaria that he respects Kirchner, describing her as “a phenomenon,” with “tremendous subliminal weight,” and “an admirable and exceptional woman.”

However, he doubled down on his call for renewal within Peronism. “I think that major figures—and there’s no greater figure in Peronism than Cristina Kirchner—should use their influence to explore, identify, and promote new generations,” he stressed.

20260224_estafa_mh_728x90

Mujica’s comments to AFP about Kirchner generated significant media attention, though he told La Diaria that “no one has said anything” to him about it because people are familiar with his blunt way of speaking.

This isn’t the first time Mujica’s remarks about Kirchner have sparked controversy. In April 2013, while serving as president of Uruguay, he was overheard saying, “That old lady is worse than the one-eyed man. The one-eyed man was more political; she’s more stubborn,” referring to then-President Kirchner and her late husband, former President Néstor Kirchner, unaware his microphone was on before a meeting in Uruguay.

International

U.S. counterterrorism chief resigns over opposition to war in Iran

Joe Kent, director of the National Counterterrorism Center, announced Tuesday that he has resigned from his post, citing his opposition to the ongoing war in Iran.

In a post on X, Kent said he could not, “in good conscience,” support the conflict, arguing that Iran did not pose an imminent threat to the United States. He also claimed that the war was driven by pressure from Israel and its lobbying influence in Washington.

In a resignation letter addressed to Donald Trump, Kent alleged that at the start of the current administration, senior Israeli officials and influential figures in U.S. media carried out a disinformation campaign that undermined the “America First” platform and fostered pro-war sentiment aimed at triggering a conflict with Iran.

Kent further stated that he could not support sending a new generation of Americans to “fight and die in a war that provides no benefit to the American people and does not justify the cost in American lives.”

Since the United States and Israel launched attacks against Iran on February 28, at least 13 U.S. service members have been killed, while 10 others have been seriously wounded and around 200 have sustained minor injuries, according to a report published by The Wall Street Journal.

20260224_estafa_mh_728x90

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.

20260224_estafa_mh_728x90

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.

20260224_estafa_mh_728x90

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.