Heriberto M. Galindo Quiñones
Yes
surely after of the latest arguments between former president Andrés Manuel López Obrador and the United States ambassador to our country, Ken Salazar, and even more so in light of the determination of President Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo in the sense that all communication and The management of the American diplomat will be carried out through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, it is inferred that his efforts will no longer have to be carried out in a personal capacity nor in the National Palace.
Given the above, the days of the man originally from the state of Colorado in his capacity as representative of his country in ours could come to an end at the end of this year to make way for his eventual replacement.
The performance of Ambassador Ken Salazar drew attention since he arrived in our country due to his permanent use of the hat, which generated very varied comments.
His second characteristic was his fluency in expressing himself in our language, and the third was his proclivity to give too many opinions on very different topics.
The fourth characteristic was his ease and cordiality in communicating and achieving empathy with the former president of the nation, and even more so in becoming your friend
so quickly, in addition to his frequent visits to the National Palace.
The friendly excesses of the aforementioned diplomat with AMLO were to such a degree that in some political and journalistic circles in the United States they even commented with some sarcasm that he seemed more like an ambassador of Mexico or representative of Andrés Manuel López Obrador to the United States.
In my opinion, President Joe Biden’s representative had initial success in his mission by achieving such a close relationship at the highest level of the Mexican government, although this generated countless conjectures – here and there – because he did it with great intensity, notorious closeness and in an excessively public manner under the protection of their hyperactivism.
A classic from my land says that every virtue taken to excess ceases to be so
and this is the case that concerns us, since the virtue of Ambassador Salazar in his desire to be effective in his diplomatic performance and thus be useful to his boss, President Joe Biden, generated presidential discomfort due to daring actions described as impertinent, Therefore, it was considered interference and interference in internal affairs.
From the beginning and during most of his performance, Ken Salazar achieved his objective by having obtained preferential and exceptionally cordial treatment and excellent understanding with the Mexican president, with governors, with businessmen and even with intellectuals, journalists and university presidents. .
But his accusations, criticisms and questioning of the constitutional reform initiatives undertaken by AMLO caused the joy to go downhill and the former president to declare a pause in the relationship with him, a situation that led to the beginning of the weakening of the image. of the diplomat; but the worst diplomatic blow was dealt recently by President Sheinbaum, when defining a modus operandi very different from that of its predecessor – limited and distant – which, when fulfilled, will set a precedent.
Thus, Ken Salazar’s style will have to change from now on, perhaps towards the end of his work, and whoever is going to replace him as US ambassador in Mexico will have to adhere to the determination of the new President, who instructed the Secretary of Foreign Affairs, Juan Ramón de la Fuente, to proceed accordingly.
I consider this to be a plausible definition and of significant importance on the part of President Claudia Sheinbaum, as it projects an image of order, seriousness, energy and precision.
But Mr. Salazar did not comply with the new Mexican presidential determination, and after the first president’s catinaria, he showed additional audacity by meeting with the governor of Nayarit, putting aside our chancellery, which would mean a lack of respect for the rule. established.
However, the statements that Ambassador Salazar made at the time in reference to the constitutional reforms should not be disregarded, through which he warned of the discomfort and dissatisfaction of his government and of his country’s businessmen and financiers regarding the potential effects of the initiatives. presidential. The ambassador was within his right and his obligation to defend the interests of the United States, the country he represents, and he surely did so in compliance with superior instructions, but the problem is that he did not do so through the corresponding diplomatic channels or in private before your friend
the president of the Republic; He did it in such a public and repetitive manner that it greatly bothered the then head of the Mexican State, who also made the famous pause very public, the term of which is not included in any legal precept of Mexican foreign policy nor in any regulation of the Foreign Ministry. of our country.
The most convenient thing is that the situation soon returns to the levels of diplomatic normality that is required, and this must not only be achieved with the United States, but also with Spain and with the other governments of the countries with which the previous federal administration confronted itself.
Dr. Juan Ramón de la Fuente, the new Mexican Foreign Minister, has a very delicate and very important mission in his charge, and fortunately due to his previous professional performances, there are high hopes that he will have a successful job at the head of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. It is desirable that this be so, and also that Mr. ambassador When Ken Salazar completes his diplomatic mission, he will take with him a good memory of Mexico.
