A storm is brewing in U.S.–Mexico relations, and its epicenter is the newly appointed U.S. ambassador: Ronald Johnson, a former Green Beret and CIA operative with deep ties to U.S. military interventions in Central America. Johnson arrived in Mexico City on May 15 and presented his diplomatic credentials to President Claudia Sheinbaum on May 19, triggering alarm among activists, political observers, and civil society leaders on both sides of the border.
To many, Johnson’s appointment is not just a diplomatic formality — it’s a signal. “It’s a declaration of war, basically, on Mexico,” said Marco Castillo, Co-Executive Director of Global Exchange, during a recent episode of the podcast WTF Is Going on in Latin America & the Caribbean. “It feels like one step before Trump attempts to set foot in Mexico.”
A Familiar Face From a Violent Past
Johnson’s résumé reads like a blueprint for interventionism. In the 1980s, he worked with right-wing paramilitary groups in El Salvador and Panama. His associations include relationships with controversial U.S.-backed figures accused of human rights abuses during Reagan’s Central American “Dirty Wars”. During the first Trump Administration, Johnson served as U.S. Ambassador to El Salvador (2019-2021), developing a close relationship with Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele
“To those of us who worked in Central America in the 1980s, he’s a figure that’s never really gone away,” said WTF co-host and activist Teri Mattson. “This is a profound message Trump is sending to Mexico and the region.”
Observers draw parallels between Johnson’s arrival and a larger arc of escalating U.S. hostility toward Mexico that began years ago. Mattson recalled a WTF episode from April 2022 titled Challenging the U.S. Narrative on Mexico, which chronicled rising anti-Mexico sentiment in U.S. media, including opposition to Mexican energy reforms and false claims tying cartels to U.S. military hardware sent to Ukraine.
“Johnson is not an aberration — he’s the culmination,” said Mattson. “He’s the endpoint of a continuum that began at least in 2021.”
A Pattern of Political Provocation
The backlash intensified when it was revealed that even before receiving formal recognition as ambassador, Johnson dined with Eduardo Verástegui, the Mexican ultra-conservative and unofficial Trump envoy. Verástegui, President of CPAC Mexico, is known for his alignment with U.S. right-wing interests and has long tried to position himself as Trump’s proxy in Mexico.
“That’s not a coincidence. That’s a statement,” said Castillo. “This is not how you build a respectful relationship with your closest neighbor.”
Indeed, Johnson’s appointment seems designed to antagonize. Activists and analysts fear his presence will embolden right-wing actors within Mexico and destabilize efforts toward national sovereignty, particularly as the country approaches pivotal judicial elections.
Strategic Interests, Economic Pressure
Beyond ideology, Johnson’s arrival is seen as part of a broader geopolitical strategy. Mexico is now the United States’ top trading partner, eclipsing even China, and the stakes of the fourth quarter 2025 review of the U.S.–Mexico–Canada Agreement (USMCA or TMEC, as it’s known in Mexico) are higher than ever. Under the surface of trade talks lies a tug-of-war over energy sovereignty, technology patents, and labor rights.
“The U.S. has tried everything — sanctions, media campaigns, diplomatic pressure — to undermine Mexico’s progressive reforms,” said Alina Duarte, a journalist and activist who co-hosted the WTF episode. “But this ambassador is different. He’s not just a diplomat. He’s a weapon.”
In 2024 alone, U.S.–Mexico trade reached over $840 billion, with Mexican manufacturing playing a key role in the electric vehicle supply chain and artificial intelligence infrastructure. Activists believe this economic dependence gives the U.S. incentive to suppress Mexico’s drive for self-determination, particularly under the leadership of President Sheinbaum and the MORENA party.
“Mexico’s energy reforms threaten U.S. corporate interests in tech, AI, and EVs,” said Mattson. “That’s what this is really about.”
Assassinations and Escalation
Just one day after Johnson formally presented his credentials, two close political allies of Mexico City Governor Clara Brugada (MORENA) were assassinated. While no official connection has been established, the timing has rattled many.
“We’ve never seen something like this — not in Mexico City,” said Duarte. “These were people directly tied to progressive governance. The implication is chilling.”
In the wake of the killings, U.S. Senator Marco Rubio released a statement accusing the Mexican government of complicity with organized crime, while simultaneously acknowledging that U.S.-made weapons are fueling that very violence.
“This isn’t just hypocrisy,” said Castillo. “It’s gaslighting. Over 70% of the weapons used in crimes in Mexico are trafficked from the United States.”
“It’s a confession,” added Duarte.
Mexico has responded by filing lawsuits against U.S. gun manufacturers and sellers, but progress has been slow. A pending case before the U.S. Supreme Court may determine whether these companies can be held accountable for arms flooding Mexico’s criminal networks.
Building a Transnational Resistance
In response to these rising tensions, Castillo and a coalition of labor unions, civil society organizations, and Indigenous leaders recently convened a binational assembly on the USMCA in Mexico City. The event aimed to link economic justice to human rights and to forge a coordinated strategy for regional solidarity.
“If we’re not included in the negotiations, then we say: no more trade without rights,” Castillo declared. “This deal has made trillions for corporations, but very little for the people.”
The assembly brought together voices from across Mexico and the U.S., highlighting how the USMCA has enabled corporate abuses, weakened labor protections, and escalated surveillance. Many warned that without structural changes, the deal would continue to enable exploitation and violence.
Eyes on the Judiciary and the Future of Democracy
The timing of Johnson’s arrival is also significant because it coincides with a historic election in Mexico. On June 1, Mexican voters will directly elect members of the judiciary — a groundbreaking shift in Latin American democracy.
“It’s a moment of enormous pressure,” said Duarte. “The U.S. and its allies want Claudia Sheinbaum and the Fourth Transformation to fail. But the people have a chance to make history.”
Mexico’s so-called Fourth Transformation — a sweeping set of reforms aimed at curbing corruption, empowering the poor, and reclaiming national sovereignty — has faced constant sabotage from conservative elites, many with direct ties to Washington.
“This is part of a regional pattern,” said Mattson. “We saw the same with Bolsonaro in Brazil, Milei in Argentina. Now Trump wants a proxy in Mexico.”
Yet activists remain undeterred. They call on U.S. citizens and organizations to reject Johnson’s appointment and demand a foreign policy grounded in justice, not domination.
“Mexico will always be your neighbor,” said Castillo. “If the U.S. continues to bully and attack us, it’s sabotaging its own future.”
A Crossroads for the Hemisphere
As Mexico moves toward a historic democratic moment, it does so under the shadow of renewed U.S. interference. Johnson’s appointment is not just a personnel change — it’s a test of will, sovereignty, and solidarity.
“Trump’s hawk is here, but so are we,” said Duarte. “And we’re not going anywhere.”
Introduced to Mesoamerican Anthropology and Archaeology in the sixth grade, Teri’s lifelong passion for Latin America & the Caribbean has inspired 40+ years of travel and activism throughout the region. The past few years include organizing and/or participating in electoral, political and social justice delegations to: Argentina, Colombia, Cuba, Ecuador, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Peru, and Venezuela. Teri is an activist with the SanctionsKill coalition, is an affiliate of the Venezuela Solidarity Network, and volunteers with CODEPINK’s Latin America team. Additionally, she hosts and produces the YouTube program and podcast WTF is Going on in Latin America & the Caribbean.
