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Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum stated on Tuesday that the government of Querétaro (central Mexico) must request federal authorization if it intends to incorporate U.S. agencies into a new international police training academy, the construction of which has sparked controversy due to the intervention of the U.S. ambassador amidst tensions between Mexico and Washington.
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“If they are going to receive support from the United States government, they must request authorization from the high-level group. Why? Because it is the law,” the president stated during her morning press conference.
The president explained that any state project for international cooperation in security matters must be presented to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (SRE), which requests the opinion of the High-Level Security Group (GANSEG), composed of federal security agencies and the Foreign Ministry.
The body, which meets monthly, approves or rejects the project, and subsequently, the SRE issues, if applicable, the determination of validity.
Sheinbaum specified that between December 2021 and October 4, 2026, the federal government identified nine cooperation projects between Querétaro and U.S. agencies: eight for the state Attorney General's Office and one for the Secretariat of Citizen Security, totaling approximately 4.6 million pesos (about 250,000 dollars).
However, she noted that the International Police Training Academy, whose cornerstone was laid last Friday with the presence of U.S. Ambassador Ken Salazar, is not among the authorized projects.
The Foreign Ministry clarified on Monday that the government of Querétaro did notify them in advance of Salazar's visit, but the official letter received on September 25 stated that this would not involve establishing direct cooperation mechanisms in security or justice procurement.
The state Attorney General's Office also indicated that it will be the first facility of its kind in Mexico and Latin America specifically dedicated to training security forces in the detection and interception of drugs, weapons, illicit money, and smuggling.
“It is not that we are against any international support. But we must follow the law,” insisted Sheinbaum, who assured that Mexico maintains a “good relationship” with the United States regarding security matters.
The president had questioned on Monday why the Querétaro authorities invited the U.S. ambassador to the event and not the federal government, even though the academy plans training on crimes such as drug trafficking and organized crime, which fall under federal jurisdiction.
[Publicidad]