The worst crisis in U.S.-Mexico relations in a century — and it’s still escalating.
Joshua Treviño, author of Mexican Standoff in The Spectator World, joins Ariana Guajardo to break down how the U.S.-Mexico relationship went from cautious optimism to full-blown crisis in a matter of weeks.
The deaths of two CIA officers in Chihuahua. The indictments of a sitting governor and senator from Sinaloa. A Mexican ruling party with deep ties to the cartels it was supposed to fight. And a president who once had a reputation for diplomatic deftness — now scrambling to hold her coalition together.
Joshua and Ariana cover it all:
– What soberanía actually means in Mexican politics — and why it’s more cover than principle
– How the Morena party’s relationship with the Sinaloa cartel shaped Mexican governance
– Why the indictments of Governor Rocha and Senator Encinas are just the opening move
– What escalation actually looks like — from USMCA leverage to financial pressure to the options no one wants to reach for
– Why AMLO’s son just quietly stepped down as party chair to seek legislative immunity
– What Guatemala’s new security arrangement with the U.S. means for Mexico’s southern border
The U.S. has tools it hasn’t used yet. Mexico can still step off the escalator. The question is whether anyone in Palacio Nacional has the statecraft to do it.
Look for Josh Treviño’s full piece, “Mexican Standoff,” in the upcoming June 8th print edition of The Spectator World.