Mexico and the United States share common interests, said U.S. Ambassador to Mexico, Ken Salazar, as he announced the beginning of work with the team of the virtual president-elect, Claudia Sheinbaum. He referred to the progress in bilateral collaboration, emphasizing that "much remains to be done."
Speaking about contacts with the upcoming government's designated cabinet, he noted that several familiar figures have worked with them, such as Marcelo Ebrard, Rogelio Ramírez de la O, and Alicia Bárcena.
In a conversation with a group of journalists, Salazar discussed security and stated that "for the prosperity of the United States, Mexico, and North America, we must achieve the security of the people, and we have to do that in a shared manner."
On another topic, he called the Mexico-United States-Canada Agreement (USMCA) "the best trade agreement in the history of humanity," adding that thanks to it, "in three years, we have become the largest trading partners in the history of the world." However, he acknowledged that changes might be made during the expected review in 2026.
The ambassador was also questioned about the controversy surrounding the Judiciary. He noted that "a strong judicial power, one of law, and with the necessary resources for its function is required," but he pointed out that there are various models, and the final decision will be up to the Mexican government.
When asked about the situation of the American company Vulcan, whose land in Quintana Roo is in litigation with the Mexican government, he said it has not been resolved and will be taken to court.
Salazar also mentioned that on Monday, there were only about 1,500 encounters at the U.S.-Mexico border, the lowest since 2018.
Additionally, he detailed that his country opened 655 investigations and arrested 463 criminals with information provided by the Mexican government regarding arms trafficking; he noted an increasing number of extraditions and that his government has trained about three thousand Mexican officers.
Addressing the border situation, he mentioned over 60 modernization projects.
"We are on the right track," he said, highlighting considerable migration, security, and trade progress.
He also noted that of the 773,000 U.S. work visas granted worldwide, more than 369,000 were issued in Mexico.
He also cited surveys indicating that 60 percent of Mexicans desire closer ties with the United States, and 80 percent favor the northern country.