US and Mexico Have Very Different Interpretations of El Mencho's Death

The US narrative is that US intelligence located El Mencho, Mexico got him, both sides are safer. But when a kingpin dies with no plan for what comes after, the situation almost always gets worse.

In Washington, the death of Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, alias “El Mencho” is being sold as a simple, clean triumph. A top bad guy was located, identified, and taken out. Americans are safer.

In Mexico City, the mood is much more solemn. For President Claudia Sheinbaum, the neutralisation of El Mencho risks plunging Mexico into a far more chaotic criminal insurgency.

But it’s not altogether clear if Mexico has a choice. Sheinbaum has been very keen to placate the US by meeting its demands, whether extraditing dozens of narcos, haviing FBI Director Kash Patel come to Mexico to be seen accompanying Canadian drug trafficker Ryan Wedding to the US, and now killing El Mencho following US-led intelligence.