Mexican President Backs Maduro Amid US Accusations

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum has come to the defense of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro. Recently, the US government formally accused Maduro of leading the drug terrorist organization known as Cartel de los Salles and has put a $50 million bounty on his capture.

During a morning briefing, Sheinbaum emphasized that her government has not launched an investigation into Maduro’s alleged ties with Mexican cartels. She asserted that if the US government is making these claims, they should present evidence to support their accusations.

“As we’ve mentioned before, if they have evidence, they need to show it,” she remarked. “There’s no evidence linked to that.”

This situation arose after reports surfaced indicating that the US government labeled Cartel Delos Sales as a global terrorist organization, claiming Maduro leads it. The cartel is reportedly intertwined with high-ranking officials in Venezuela. Furthermore, the US alleges that Maduro and his cartel are aiding the Sinaloa cartel, designated as a foreign terrorist organization earlier this year.

The US first announced a reward for Maduro back in 2020, following his indictment on drug trafficking charges. Since classifying new terrorists, the US has sought to intensify pressure on Maduro, imposing additional financial sanctions. Recently, they increased the reward for his capture, raising it from $25 million to $50 million, according to reports.

When questioned about the alleged connection between Venezuela and the Sinaloa cartel, Sheinbaum indicated that her government has no knowledge to support such claims and reiterated that Maduro is not under investigation in Mexico.

In 2021, Maduro visited Mexico to meet various officials, including Sheinbaum’s predecessor, Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador. At that time, the Mexican government chose not to arrest him, asserting that he was a welcome guest in the country.