President Claudia Sheinbaum has inherited a wave of violence in her first three weeks in office, a situation exacerbated by her predecessor’s strategy of avoiding confrontation with drug cartels. Despite her desire to focus on judicial reform, Sheinbaum has been forced to address incidents involving the military, including the killing of migrants and bystanders. The challenges continue with the murder of a priest and clashes with drug cartel suspects.
While Sheinbaum supports her predecessor’s policies of not directly engaging with cartels, critics argue that the root issue lies in the lack of funding and training for civilian police and prosecutors. The armed forces have become central to Mexico’s security strategy, overshadowing efforts to reform the judiciary and combat corruption.
As violence persists, Sheinbaum faces criticism for dedicating more time to promoting judicial reform than addressing urgent security concerns. The recent escalation in cartel attacks has tested the government’s response and highlighted the need for a more effective strategy to combat the heavily armed drug cartels.
The challenges ahead for Sheinbaum and her administration underscore Mexico’s longstanding struggle to address cartel violence effectively. The ongoing violence and the military’s role in combating it raise concerns about the country’s future security measures.
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