Mexico's former president López Obrador lashes out at new U.S. stance on drug‑related security

Former President Andrés López Obrador said the United States has shifted its approach toward Mexico, preferring the “old Trump” over the current administration. He argued that policy changes in Washington reflect a clearer, more forceful strategy that targets Mexico’s security issues, especially those tied to narcotics.

López Obrador linked the heightened U.S. focus to the rise of fentanyl trafficking, which he said originates in China and fuels a wave of overdoses in the United States. He also highlighted a massive fuel‑theft operation, describing it as a state‑backed scheme that generated roughly $34 billion between 2022 and 2024 for criminal groups in Sinaloa, Tamaulipas, Baja California and Michoacán.

The former president noted that during his six‑year term Mexico recorded 200,000 homicides and over 100,000 disappearances, while U.S. fentanyl‑related deaths exceeded 70,000 annually. He claimed Mexico does not produce fentanyl, despite the lucrative trade that, in his view, empowers cartels and deepens bilateral security tensions.