El Salvador Recalls Ambassador After Mexico Drug Trafficking Dispute
El Salvador recalled its ambassador to Mexico on Wednesday following a diplomatic dispute over alleged drug trafficking claims. President Nayib Bukele ordered the recall after Mexico’s security minister accused a drug trafficking aircraft of originating from El Salvador.
Bukele firmly denied Mexico’s allegations about the plane’s origin. The Salvadoran president called back Ambassador Milena Mayorga for consultations, escalating tensions between the two Central American allies. The diplomatic spat centers on conflicting accounts of where the suspected narcotics aircraft departed.
Mexico’s security minister made the initial claim about the plane’s Salvadoran origin, though specific details about the aircraft or its cargo remain unclear. Bukele’s administration rejected these assertions, viewing them as unfounded accusations against El Salvador’s sovereignty.
The ambassador recall represents a significant diplomatic response between the neighboring nations. Both countries have struggled with drug trafficking issues, making cross-border cooperation essential for regional security efforts.
This dispute highlights growing tensions in Central America’s anti-narcotics efforts. El Salvador has implemented aggressive anti-gang policies under Bukele’s leadership, while Mexico continues battling powerful drug cartels.
The recall comes at a time when regional cooperation against organized crime remains crucial. Neither government has indicated when normal diplomatic relations might resume or how they plan to resolve the underlying disagreement about the aircraft’s origin.
