Mexico Expects US to Honor Its Laws: Sheinbaum

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum on Monday ruled out a conflict with the US over an incident involving two CIA agents who died in an accident in the state of Chihuahua—agents who, according to Mexico, were not authorized to operate in the country. During her morning news briefing, Sheinbaum expressed her willingness to move past the issue that surfaced last week, saying that while she hopes it remains an isolated case, the federal government expects the US to respect Mexico's constitution and national security laws moving forward. "Let us hope this is an exceptional case ... and that a situation like this never happens again," she said. But Sheinbaum insisted the details of the operation must be clarified.

Mexico's Ministry of Security said Saturday that one of the US agents had entered Mexico as a visitor, while the other had done so using a diplomatic passport. The ministry reiterated that it was unaware that foreign agents were operating within its territory. The CIA has declined to comment. The Americans killed were members of the CIA, per the AP. Last year, the Mexican government reached an agreement with the Trump administration on a plan to coordinate actions and exchange information regarding security, while respecting the sovereignty of both countries. For decades, the presence of the CIA and the Drug Enforcement Administration in Mexico has been marked by disputes. Their activities typically come to light when problems arise—as in 2012, when a US Embassy vehicle was shot at on the outskirts of Mexico City and two CIA agents were wounded.