MEXICO CITY — President Claudia Sheinbaum has clarified that U.S. Ambassador Ronald Johnson will not be holding a bilateral meeting with her during his visit to the National Palace this Thursday. While the diplomat will be on-site, the administration confirmed his presence is strictly for an engagement with U.S. business leaders, a move that underscores the current friction between Mexico and the United States over issues of national sovereignty.
The clarification follows reports that Sheinbaum had declined a direct sit-down with Johnson. The move comes during a period of heightened diplomatic sensitivity, fueled by the ambassador’s repeated comments regarding Mexico’s internal affairs, including security, corruption, and investment conditions.
The diplomatic distance is also influenced by recent rhetoric from former President Andrés Manuel López Obrador. In his book Pueblo, López Obrador criticized Johnson’s conduct, accusing the diplomat of behaving more like a “security agent” than a traditional representative of his country.
When questioned about these criticisms, Sheinbaum acknowledged the relevance of López Obrador’s concerns regarding the role of U.S. agencies in Mexico. However, she signaled a shift in tone, emphasizing that her administration must prioritize “proper forms” and diplomatic decorum in its dealings with Washington.
The visit highlights a dual-track strategy for the current Mexican government. On one hand, the administration is firm on its stance against perceived foreign interference and the protection of sovereignty. On the other, it remains committed to facilitating direct contact between the U.S. government and the American corporations that maintain significant interests and operations within Mexico.
By allowing Johnson to conduct business with the private sector while avoiding a formal state-to-state meeting, Sheinbaum appears to be balancing these competing priorities: upholding the “4T” movement’s principles of non-interference while ensuring that the economic engines of the country continue to run smoothly.