Mexico’s Sheinbaum and López Obrador accuse United States of political interference

Former Mexican president Andrés Manuel López Obrador released a letter on 3 June 2026 claiming U.S. officials are seeking to weaken the ruling Morena party and install a “subordinate” government. He said the effort is part of a broader U.S. attempt to destabilise Mexico’s leadership.

President Claudia Sheinbaum has likewise denounced what she describes as a coordinated campaign by right‑wing groups in the United States to influence Mexican internal affairs. She cited U.S. pressure tactics, including tariff threats, over drug‑trafficking and migration issues, and rejected any U.S. intrusion on Mexican sovereignty. The administration highlighted a recent U.S. Department of Justice indictment of Sinaloa governor Rubén Rocha Moya and nine other officials for alleged cartel links, which Sheinbaum called politically motivated.

Both leaders warned that continued U.S. interference could jeopardise the renegotiation of the United States‑Mexico‑Canada Agreement (USMCA), which is due for renewal on 1 July 2026. The accusations mark a sharp rhetorical shift in Mexico‑U.S. relations amid ongoing investigations of Mexican officials and broader concerns about drug‑related violence.