403
Sorry!!
Error! We're sorry, but the page you were looking for doesn't exist.
Sheinbaum Warns Querétaro Over Unapproved US Police Academy
(MENAFN) Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum on Tuesday cautioned that a US-funded International Police Training Academy under construction in the state of Queretaro has not received authorization from the federal government.
Speaking at a press conference, Sheinbaum said her administration was never notified about the facility, which is financed and run by the US government on Mexican soil. US Ambassador Ronald Johnson and state Governor Mauricio Kuri inaugurated construction of the building.
Under the Mexican Constitution, state governments cannot sign security agreements with foreign governments. Such matters fall exclusively under federal authority and require approval from the Security Cabinet.
Sheinbaum said the ambassador's attendance was not the issue. “The problem is not the presence of an ambassador at an activity like this, but rather the nature of the activity and the permits they must have to develop the academy they announced at the event,” Sheinbaum said at the press conference.
The federal government has approved nine cooperation projects between Queretaro and US security agencies, she said, but the academy inaugurated by Johnson and Kuri is not among them.
The president stressed that the dispute does not signal a rift with Washington. “We have a good relationship with the US government on security matters and on other issues. What we ask the state governors, the ambassador and the US government is that Mexican laws be followed in everything related to international cooperation,” the president added.
Second state-level breach under Sheinbaum
It is the second time during Sheinbaum's administration that a state government has overstepped federal authority by setting up security arrangements with the United States. In April, it emerged that two US agents killed in a car accident in Chihuahua were Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) operatives deployed in Mexico at the state government's invitation to support security operations. That revelation prompted a federal investigation into the government of Maru Campos.
The Queretaro academy would train state police officers to detect and intercept drugs, weapons, large sums of illicit cash and contraband.
Sheinbaum reiterated that the Kuri government must submit the academy to the federal government for approval. “This is a warning to the government of Queretaro,” Sheinbaum concluded.
Speaking at a press conference, Sheinbaum said her administration was never notified about the facility, which is financed and run by the US government on Mexican soil. US Ambassador Ronald Johnson and state Governor Mauricio Kuri inaugurated construction of the building.
Under the Mexican Constitution, state governments cannot sign security agreements with foreign governments. Such matters fall exclusively under federal authority and require approval from the Security Cabinet.
Sheinbaum said the ambassador's attendance was not the issue. “The problem is not the presence of an ambassador at an activity like this, but rather the nature of the activity and the permits they must have to develop the academy they announced at the event,” Sheinbaum said at the press conference.
The federal government has approved nine cooperation projects between Queretaro and US security agencies, she said, but the academy inaugurated by Johnson and Kuri is not among them.
The president stressed that the dispute does not signal a rift with Washington. “We have a good relationship with the US government on security matters and on other issues. What we ask the state governors, the ambassador and the US government is that Mexican laws be followed in everything related to international cooperation,” the president added.
Second state-level breach under Sheinbaum
It is the second time during Sheinbaum's administration that a state government has overstepped federal authority by setting up security arrangements with the United States. In April, it emerged that two US agents killed in a car accident in Chihuahua were Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) operatives deployed in Mexico at the state government's invitation to support security operations. That revelation prompted a federal investigation into the government of Maru Campos.
The Queretaro academy would train state police officers to detect and intercept drugs, weapons, large sums of illicit cash and contraband.
Sheinbaum reiterated that the Kuri government must submit the academy to the federal government for approval. “This is a warning to the government of Queretaro,” Sheinbaum concluded.
Legal Disclaimer:
MENAFN provides the
information “as is” without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any
responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos,
licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information
contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues
related to this article, kindly contact the provider above.
Comments
No comment