US Ambassador Rejects Blame for Sinaloa Cartel Violence

Ambassador Ken Salazar denies US involvement in escalating cartel conflict following high-profile arrests.

US Ambassador Ken Salazar refuted claims by Mexican President Lopez Obrador that the US is partly responsible for the recent surge in violence in Sinaloa.
The violence erupted after the arrest of Sinaloa Cartel co-founder Ismael 'El Mayo' Zambada in the US, which allegedly involved a kidnapping orchestrated by a rival cartel faction.
Since the conflict began on September 9, at least 53 people have been killed and 51 are missing, with the violence primarily concentrated in Culiacan, the state capital.
Mexican authorities have deployed an additional 600 soldiers to Sinaloa to reinforce security amid the ongoing cartel warfare.
The incident has strained US-Mexico relations, with Salazar emphasizing the need for strong bilateral cooperation to address the broader security challenges in Mexico.