Salazar Responds to Sheinbaum on 'El Mayo' Case: 'Not Our Plane, Pilot, or Operation'

U.S. Ambassador to Mexico Ken Salazar has directly responded to President Claudia Sheinbaum's questioning of his previous statements regarding the arrests of alleged drug cartel leaders Ismael "El Mayo" Zambada and Joaquín Guzmán López.

Salazar asserted that he and U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland had clearly communicated to the Mexican government that the operation was not American. "The president of Mexico, Claudia Sheinbaum, has asked: Who told the truth? Let me answer clearly: Attorney General Merrick Garland and I informed the Mexican government, both in our public statements and on July 25 and 26, 2024, of the arrests of Ismael Zambada García and Joaquín Guzmán," Salazar stated on social media.

He further emphasized the U.S. government's position: "We informed the Mexican government that it was not our plane, nor our pilot, nor our operation. The truth is the truth." This statement directly addresses Sheinbaum's public query, which arose after a news report suggested the FBI had claimed responsibility for the operation. Sheinbaum had recalled that the U.S. Embassy previously stated no U.S. agency was involved, leading her to question who was being untruthful.

Salazar also used the opportunity to promote his upcoming book, "Borderlands: My Fight for an Inclusive America," which he said discusses the need for a "New North American Alliance" to tackle shared economic, security, and climate challenges. He expressed hope that this message would be adopted by the people of the United States, Mexico, and Canada.