International

Mexico announces reforms against “external interference”, after the US designated the cartels as terrorists

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum announced on Thursday two reforms to the Constitution against “external interference” and to impose the “most severe penalty” on foreigners who intervene in Mexico after the United States declared six drug trafficking cartels terrorists.

In addition, the president reaffirmed in her morning conference that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (SRE) will expand its lawsuit against manufacturers and sellers of weapons in the United States to accuse them of accomplices in terrorism after this classification.

“What we want to make clear in the face of this designation is that we do not negotiate sovereignty, this cannot be an opportunity on the part of the US to invade our sovereignty, so they can give them the name they decide, but with Mexico it is collaboration and coordination, never subordination, not interference and less invasion,” he said.

Sheinbaum asked that “it be clear” that “there is no interference, there is no violation of sovereignty” despite the fact that the US State Department considers from now on the Sinaloa, Jalisco Nueva Generación (CJNG), the Gulf, the Northeast, the New Michoacana Family and the United Cartels as terrorists.

“Both countries want to fight organized crime groups that commit illegal acts in both countries, and there we are working very well on coordination, but we have to guarantee that it is under collaboration and coordination, never violating Mexico’s sovereignty in any way,” he said.

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The change to article 40 of the Constitution will reinforce that “the people of Mexico under no circumstances will accept interventions, intrusions or any other act from abroad that is detrimental to the integrity, independence and sovereignty of the Nation,” said the president.

This includes “coups d’état, interference in elections or the violation of Mexican territory, be it by land, water, sea or airspace.”

“Nor will he consent to any intervention in investigation and prosecution without the authorization and express collaboration of the Mexican State, within the framework of the applicable laws,” according to the head of the Executive.

Meanwhile, article 19 will warn that “any foreigner who carries out activities outside the law, linked” to these interferences, “will be imposed the most severe punishment possible, as well as unofficial preventive detention.”

After the appointment, the president raised her claims to the United States arms industry, the origin of almost three out of four weapons used by organized crime in Mexico, according to a report by the Department of Justice in January.

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The reform to article 19 also proposes that “any national or foreign national linked in the manufacture, distribution, alienation, transfer or internationalization to national territory in an illicit manner of weapons” shall be “imposed the most severe possible penalty”.

While the Foreign Ministry will expand the lawsuit it filed during the Government of Andrés Manuel López Obrador (2018-2024) against American manufacturers and sellers of weapons, which it accuses of knowingly selling these supplies to cartels in Mexico.

“Given this appointment, there must be a link between those who sell weapons to these criminal groups that today have been cataloged with this name by the US Government, so there will be an expansion of this demand for complicity of those who sell weapons that are introduced” to Mexico, he said.

International

Two killed in shooting at restaurant near Frankfurt Airport

Two people were shot dead early Tuesday at a restaurant in Raunheim, near Frankfurt Airport, according to local police.

Preliminary findings indicate that an armed individual entered the establishment at around 03:45 local time (02:45 GMT) and opened fire on the victims, who died at the scene from their injuries.

The suspect fled and remains at large, while the motive behind the shooting is still unclear, German media reported. Authorities have launched a large-scale search operation.

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.

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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.”