US Ambassador Calls for a “Sovereign and Free” Mexico from Organized Crime at Binational Convention

The relationship between the United States and Mexico, valued at nearly a trillion dollars, took center stage this week at the V Binational Convention, organized by the American Society (Amsoc) in Mexico City. In an atmosphere intended to celebrate friendship, U.S. Ambassador Ronald Johnson called for a “sovereign Mexico free from malicious external interference, but also a sovereign Mexico free from internal interference by transnational criminal organizations that terrorize and control communities,” as reported by El País.

The event brought together governors from different political parties, congresspeople, and officials from the Mexican Government, including the Undersecretary of Foreign Trade. Past tensions, such as the unauthorized presence of CIA agents in Chihuahua or the withdrawal of visas for Morena figures, were notably absent from discussions. The focus was on celebrating the bilateral bond, which leaders from both countries, like Donald Trump and Claudia Sheinbaum, have recently described as very positive.

A Direct Message from the Ambassador

Ambassador Johnson, a former Green Beret, chose to deliver his message in English to be “very clear.” He used stark examples, such as car bombings in Zacatecas, to illustrate the “terrorism” of cartels. He also made a veiled reference to China, indicating that “some foreign actors do not want this partnership between the U.S. and Mexico to succeed,” and would even be willing to pay a high price for it to fail, according to El País. He emphasized that the bilateral relationship is “building” a “safer, stronger, and more prosperous” North America that the rest of the world envies.

Johnson quoted President Trump from his UN speech, but focused on the positive aspect: “we have made great strides with Mexico, they [the Sheinbaum Government] don’t want the cartels either.” He omitted the other part of Trump’s statement, which called Mexico “the epicenter of cartel violence” and demanded the country “regain control of its territory.” This selective wording reflects a diplomatic strategy of offering continued cooperation, presenting the U.S. as “good neighbors.”

States with Binational Ties

Several Mexican governors used the convention as an opportunity to highlight the importance of their states in the relationship with the United States. Alfredo Ramírez Bedolla, the Morena governor of Michoacán, called his state the “orchard of North America” and emphasized avocado and lemon exports, as well as hosting the largest U.S. phytosanitary inspector program globally. He stated that Michoacán is a “binational state,” with 50,000 “Americans” residing there and four million Michoacans across the border, according to El País.

Meanwhile, Pablo Lemus, from Movimiento Ciudadano in Jalisco, presented his state as the “Silicon Valley of Latin America,” with strong development in semiconductors and artificial intelligence technology. Jalisco has positioned itself as the “leading non-border state in exports,” and its main trade partner in the electronic market is the United States.

From Querétaro, PAN governor Mauricio Kuri highlighted his state as a “new data center cluster” and one of the top three nationwide for U.S. investment, thanks to its aerospace and automotive industries. Finally, Libia Dennise García, governor of Guanajuato, cited significant export and import figures with the U.S. to emphasize the “very solid relationship” between the two countries.

USMCA and the “New Game” of Trade

The United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) was another key topic of the day. Still under negotiation, the future of the agreement creates uncertainty. Undersecretary of Foreign Trade, Luis Rosendo Gutiérrez, explained that the discussions are part of a restructuring of the rules under the Trump administration. It's no longer just about free trade, but about Mexico’s “relative advantage compared to the rest of the world,” as quoted by El País.

Gutiérrez noted that 85% of Mexican exports to the U.S. are tariff-free and that Mexico has one of the lowest global tariffs, at 3.4%. The strategy for the future includes diversifying markets for high-tariff products (steel, aluminum, automobiles), increasing purchases from the U.S. to balance the trade deficit, and transitioning from an assembly stop to a manufacturing region. These economic efforts, however, are tied to security demands and the expectation that Mexico will “do still, a little, more.”

President Claudia Sheinbaum has held 22 phone conversations with Donald Trump since January 2025, focused on the trade agreement, which shows the high level of direct contact. Recently, Sheinbaum confirmed progress in the treaty negotiations, though without detailing a closed agreement, according to El País. This occurs as the U.S. continues to press Mexico to increase efforts against drug trafficking, a topic that, according to Sheinbaum, was not discussed in her last call with Trump.

Why it matters

This binational convention highlights a complex dynamic between two neighbors. On one hand, there's a clear willingness to celebrate friendship and the economic ties that benefit both. On the other, the persistence of concerns about security and organized crime, which the United States continues to point out as a challenge to Mexico's sovereignty. The future of USMCA and Mexico's ability to diversify its economy, while addressing security pressures, will largely define the shared prosperity of North America.