Just weeks into her presidency, Claudia Sheinbaum, Mexico’s new president, is confronting a stark reality of escalating violence, a situation many attribute to the policies of her predecessor. Taking office on October 1st, Sheinbaum inherited a complex security landscape marked by the continued influence of drug cartels and the controversial use of the military in law enforcement. While her administration initially aimed to focus on judicial reforms, recent events have thrust the issue of national security and cartel violence into the forefront.
A Baptism of Fire: Early Incidents Mar Sheinbaum’s Presidency
Sheinbaum’s term began under the shadow of violence. On her very first day in office, the army was involved in the killing of six migrants, an incident that immediately drew sharp criticism and highlighted the ongoing issues with military conduct. This was followed just ten days later by another tragic event in Nuevo Laredo, a border city plagued by cartel activity, where soldiers killed three bystanders during an operation targeting drug cartel suspects. These bystanders, caught in the crossfire between the military and cartels, included an 8-year-old girl and a nurse, underscoring the indiscriminate nature of the violence and its devastating impact on civilian populations.
These incidents are not isolated. Sheinbaum’s initial weeks have been further complicated by the murder of Marcelo Pérez, a Catholic priest and activist who had been vocal against gang violence and had received threats. Adding to the sense of crisis, a confrontation in Sinaloa state saw soldiers reportedly kill 19 drug cartel suspects without suffering any casualties themselves. This highly disproportionate outcome has triggered concerns and unwelcome comparisons to past human rights violations, including a 2014 incident where soldiers killed cartel suspects after they had allegedly surrendered.
Criticism Mounts Amidst Calls for Policy Shift
Santiago Aguirre, head of the Miguel Agustín Pro Human Rights Center, voices a growing sentiment of disappointment and concern. According to Aguirre, the current situation paints a “dark” picture for Mexico’s future, with a sense that “everything is breaking down.” He argues that the government’s focus on judicial reform, while potentially important, is diverting crucial political capital away from addressing the urgent crisis of violence. Critics argue that the proposed judicial reforms, aimed at electing judges, are a misplaced priority. They contend that the core issue lies not in judicial corruption alone, but in the systemic underfunding and inadequate training of civilian police forces and prosecutors. This deficiency leads to an alarmingly low rate of prosecution, with over 90% of crimes never reaching the courts.
Echoes of the Past: López Obrador’s Security Legacy
The current security strategy is largely a continuation of the policies implemented by Sheinbaum’s predecessor and mentor, Andrés Manuel López Obrador. López Obrador’s administration prioritized the deployment of the armed forces in public security roles, a move that critics argue side-lined the crucial and long-term task of strengthening civilian law enforcement and judicial institutions. His controversial “hugs, not bullets” approach, focused on addressing the root causes of crime through social programs rather than direct confrontation with cartels, has also come under increasing scrutiny in light of the persistent violence.
While López Obrador maintained high approval ratings throughout his term, his administration failed to significantly reduce Mexico’s historically high homicide rates. His strategy of downplaying incidents of violence and dismissing media reports as “sensationalism” is a stark contrast to the immediate challenges Sheinbaum faces. The sheer volume and gravity of recent events are testing Sheinbaum’s administration in ways her predecessor largely avoided in his early term.
Car Bombs and Cartel Power: A New Level of Confrontation
Adding to the pressure, drug cartels have demonstrated a worrying escalation in tactics. The recent deployment of car bombs in Guanajuato state, injuring police officers and causing widespread disruption, signals a bold and dangerous evolution in cartel operations. This incident, occurring in Sheinbaum’s third week, serves as a direct challenge to her authority and highlights the cartels’ increasing willingness to engage in direct and dramatic confrontations with the state.
Military analyst Juan Ibarrola acknowledges that these events are putting Sheinbaum and her administration “to the test.” He points to the undeniable reality of heavily armed and increasingly assertive drug cartels seeking territorial dominance. The question of how to effectively counter this challenge remains a persistent and complex issue that has bedeviled successive Mexican presidents. While Ibarrola concedes that “the use of violence by the Mexican government is necessary,” the recent incidents raise serious questions about the proportionality, legality, and effectiveness of current strategies.
Guerrero Gun Battle and Fears of Widespread Military Tactics
Further underscoring the intensity of the conflict, Mexico’s top security official, Omar García Harfuch, detailed a massive cartel attack in Guerrero. A convoy of cartel gunmen, utilizing armored vehicles and heavy weaponry including machine guns, explosives, and .50-caliber sniper rifles, engaged in a prolonged gun battle with security forces. The result, again, was heavily lopsided: 17 cartel suspects killed compared to two police officers. While the Defense Department highlighted bullet damage to army vehicles and injuries to soldiers, the recurring pattern of disproportionate casualties reinforces concerns about the military’s operational tactics and potential for human rights abuses.
Raymundo Ramos, of the Human Rights Commission of Nuevo Laredo, expresses fear that the aggressive military tactics employed in his region – characterized by a “shoot first, ask questions later” approach – are now spreading nationwide. He suggests a disturbing pattern of orders to “not leave witnesses,” indicating a potentially systemic issue within the security forces.
Looming Challenges for Mexico’s New Leader
Mexico’s new president, Claudia Sheinbaum, faces an immediate and immense challenge in addressing the escalating violence and the deep-rooted power of drug cartels. Her ability to navigate these turbulent early weeks, reassess existing security strategies, and potentially chart a new course will be crucial in shaping her presidency and determining the future security landscape of Mexico. The nation and international observers are watching closely to see how Sheinbaum will respond to this baptism of fire and whether she can bring a new approach to combating Mexico’s persistent security crisis.
