### Ambassador Salazar Denies U.S. Responsibility for Violence in Sinaloa
Kenneth Lee Salazar, the United States Ambassador to Mexico since September 2, 2021, firmly denied on September 20, 2024, that U.S. authorities were responsible for the violence erupting in Sinaloa. This violence came after the capture of Sinaloa cartel leader Ismael Mario Zambada García, also known as “El Mayo,” on July 25, 2024, in the U.S. following his kidnapping the same day in Culiacán by Joaquín Guzmán López, “El Güero Moreno,” the son of “El Chapo.”
During a press conference at the U.S. Consulate General in Ciudad Juárez, Chihuahua, Ambassador Salazar rejected claims that the U.S. government sparked confrontations by capturing the cartel co-founder. He emphasized that solving the issue would require defining and addressing the core problem collaboratively.
“It’s hard to see how the U.S. can be blamed for the massacres like those in Morelos or Sinaloa,” Salazar stated, while affirming that both governments have successfully worked together to apprehend key cartel figures, including Ovidio Guzmán López and Rafael Caro Quintero.
Salazar also noted that collaboration will likely continue with the next Mexican administration under Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo, who has stressed the importance of coordination in security matters.
Meanwhile, Sheinbaum complained about the lack of coordination for “El Mayo’s” arrest, questioning the U.S. government’s failure to explain the release of one cartel leader to capture another. President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador also accused the U.S. of co-responsibility for the rise in violence in Sinaloa, attributing it to unilateral actions by U.S. authorities.
Despite this, Lopez Obrador asserted that these developments would not harm bilateral relations, but emphasized the need for mutual cooperation.
### More Related News:
**U.S. and Mexican Authorities Continue Collaboration Against Drug Cartels**
In the wake of recent violent incidents in Sinaloa, the cooperation between U.S. and Mexican authorities remains crucial. Various sources indicate ongoing efforts to tackle organized crime through collaborative measures.
As reported recently, special task forces and intelligence-sharing initiatives have been instrumental in capturing high-profile cartel members. This cooperation aims to dismantle cartel operations that stretch across borders, impacting both nations.
Furthermore, both governments have stated that maintaining security and reducing violence is a priority. The aim is to create a stable environment for the citizens of both countries through continued joint efforts and addressing root causes like drug trafficking and organized crime.
Stay tuned to TJGringo.com for updates on this developing story.