Mexico’s President Claudia Sheinbaum is shifting away from the security policies of her predecessor, Andrés Manuel López Obrador. López Obrador had a well-known approach to organized crime, famously saying that the solution was “hugs, not bullets.” This motto guided his six years in office, emphasizing a softer approach to dealing with drug cartels.
López Obrador believed that economic inequality drove young people to join cartels. His administration focused on providing education, housing, and job opportunities as a way to combat cartel violence. One of his key initiatives was "Young People Building the Future," a program aimed at offering jobs and benefits to young Mexicans who were not in school or working.
However, this strategy did not significantly change the landscape of organized crime in Mexico. While some young people do turn to crime out of economic need, the drug trade is highly profitable. Many find that joining a cartel can lead to wealth that legal jobs cannot match. This lack of effective change allowed cartels to thrive, especially as the U.S. government under President Biden relaxed enforcement along the southern border.
Under López Obrador, homicide rates reached record highs in 2020. Although there was a slight decline in murder rates during his presidency, they remained alarmingly high. The number of missing persons also surged, with over 100,000 cases reported in 2023, many linked to cartel violence.
The brutality of cartels has become increasingly visible, with violence spilling into politics. Some states, like Sonora and Coahuila, have seen monthly murder rates exceeding 100, largely due to organized crime. The shocking murder of the mayor of Chilpancingo, shortly after his election, highlighted the dangers faced by those who challenge the status quo.
As public frustration with cartel violence grows, Sheinbaum has distanced herself from López Obrador’s rhetoric. While she still supports welfare programs, she has introduced a new security plan focused on intelligence and investigations to disrupt cartel operations.
Sheinbaum’s approach also includes cooperation with the U.S. government. Unlike Canada, which has pushed back against American demands, Mexico has maintained a steady relationship with the Biden administration. Sheinbaum has worked with President Trump, sending troops to the border and cracking down on trafficking. She has even extradited cartel leaders to the U.S. for prosecution.
Despite these efforts, Sheinbaum faces challenges. Budget cuts to security services for 2025 may hinder her effectiveness in combating cartel violence. However, her shift away from López Obrador’s leniency has allowed her to navigate the political landscape more easily, avoiding backlash from López Obrador’s supporters while addressing the pressing issue of organized crime in Mexico.