US Intervenes in Mexico’s Government: A New Era of Informants and Escalation

The recent leaked audio recordings of Baja California Governor Marina del Pilar, offering to become an FBI informant, have sparked speculation about what she might know and who the target of American investigators is. The specifics of this case are murky, but they represent a broader trend: the increasing use by US authorities of informants within Mexico’s government.

This development is part of a growing pattern of US intervention in Mexico’s internal affairs. Mexican leaders have long been wary of President Trump’s claims about launching military strikes against narco cartels, and with good reason. The Mexican-American War serves as a historical reference point for some, but this misreads the past. In reality, the US has long had a hand in shaping Mexico’s politics, often through covert means.

The current situation is more complex still. With American prosecutors using informants to pursue members of the Mexican government, it seems clear that the US is expanding its reach into Mexico’s internal affairs. This could pave the way for military strikes or provide a pretext for them. The State Department’s decision last year to cancel del Pilar’s visa while investigating her and her husband was likely a warning shot across the bow.

The DEA’s Terry Cole has described the “deadly connection” between cartel networks and the Mexican government, echoing a long line of officials who have sought to demonize Mexico’s leaders. The case against Ruben Rocha Moya, governor of Sinaloa, is instructive. He was indicted for alleged drug trafficking, but his accusers seem more interested in using evidence of links between the government and organized crime as justification for military action.

The implications are far-reaching. If US authorities continue down this path – using informants to target Mexican officials while maintaining the threat of military intervention hanging over their heads – it could have a profound impact on Mexico’s politics. Already, at least four members of Sheinbaum’s Morena party have been indicted, and dozens more have had their visas revoked.

The US has entered uncharted territory in its relations with Mexico. The question now is what will happen next – and whether either nation will emerge from this period with its sovereignty intact.