### AMLO Pauses Relations with U.S. and Canadian Embassies Following Criticism of Judicial Reform
**By Carlos Álvarez Acevedo | August 27, 2024**
On August 27, 2024, Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador announced a suspension in relations between the Mexican government and the embassies of the United States and Canada. This decision comes in response to criticisms from the heads of these diplomatic missions about the judicial reform currently being debated in the Mexican Congress.
Kenneth Lee Salazar, the U.S. Ambassador to Mexico since September 2, 2021, warned on August 22, 2024, that the judicial reform, which includes the direct election of judges, poses “a risk to the functioning of democracy and the integration of economies.” This reform was proposed by López Obrador on February 5 of the same year.
Similarly, Graeme C. Clark, the Canadian Ambassador to Mexico, disclosed on the same day that Canadian investors had expressed concerns regarding the judicial reform, which includes provisions for the popular election of judges, magistrates, and Supreme Court justices.
During his morning press conference held at the National Palace, López Obrador responded sternly to the criticisms. He admonished Ambassador Salazar, reminding him of the limits set by Mexico’s Constitution and expressing disappointment towards the Canadian Embassy’s stance.
“How can we allow the ambassador [Salazar], with all due respect, to say that what we are doing is wrong? We won’t ask him to leave the country, but we do need to remind him of our Constitution, like ‘reading him the riot act,'” López Obrador emphasized.
When asked about his current relationship with Ambassador Salazar, the president replied, “It’s good, but it’s on pause. Since he made those statements [against the judicial reform], we’re taking our time.”
López Obrador called for the U.S. Department of State to reaffirm its respect for Mexico’s sovereignty. He added that similar respect is expected from Canada’s embassy. “They need to learn to respect Mexico’s sovereignty,” he insisted. “We do not go there to give advice or to tell them what is right or wrong.”
López Obrador concluded that Mexico will continue to uphold this position against foreign interference as long as he is in power. He also expressed hope that the succeeding administration, led by Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo, would maintain this stance. He did not plan to reach out to U.S. President Joseph Biden, attributing the situation to an unfortunate and imprudent statement by the embassy.
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