Mexican President Accuses Pentagon of Spying

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Facts

  • Following leaks in US media regarding tensions between Mexico's Navy and Army, Mexican Pres. Andrés Manuel López Orbrador on Tuesday accused the Pentagon of spying on his government and said he would begin classifying information from the armed forces.1
  • The Washington Post reported Saturday that a leaked US military assessment found that the secretary of the Mexican Navy ordered officials to limit their cooperation with the Army. The order came amid frustration over the possibility that the Army would take control of the airspace.2
  • Obrador said the Mexican government needed to safeguard classified information to protect its 'national security and defend its sovereignty,' alleging that Mexico was subject to spying by parts of the US government, including the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).3
  • Obrador specifically accused the DEA of 'informing' Mexican media organizations to 'weaken us politically.'4
  • This comes at a difficult time for Pentagon officials, who are still managing the diplomatic and security fallout from leaks that have prompted accusations the US is spying on allied nations. Pentagon officials have not yet commented on Obrador's remarks.5

Sources: 1Reuters, 2The Hill, 3BNN, 4AOL and 5Daily Wire.

Narratives

  • Establishment-critical narrative, as provided by Euro ES Euro. The Washington Post's revelation last week of alleged tensions between the Mexican Army and Navy, citing leaks of secret US military communications, is an abusive, overbearing intrusion. Mexico should not sit idly by as Washington conducts its bullying, interventionist plan and allows the DEA to make information public to the Mexican media that could undermine Obrador's administration.
  • Pro-establishment narrative, as provided by ABC News. Obrador's accusations are completely unjustified and it is no coincidence that they came just days after US prosecutors announced charges against 28 members of the Sinaloa cartel for smuggling massive amounts of fentanyl into the US. AMLO wants to destroy the working relations that took decades to build. However, if US-Mexican relations go south, it will mean more drugs reaching the US and more corruption and violence in Mexico.