Is Terry Cole "Promoting" Harfuch? The US Has Always Sought to Divide Us, Sheinbaum Says
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"They run into a wall, because Mexico's security Cabinet has enormous coordination and unity," Sheinbaum said, dismissing US attempts to divide her government.

This article by Sugeyry Romina Gándara originally appeared in the September 2, 2026 edition of SinEmbargo, an independent Mexican news outlet.

Mexico City, September 2 (SinEmbargo).— President Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo on Wednesday rejected the notion that praise from the director of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Terry Cole, for Security Secretary Omar García Harfuch has any political-promotion purpose, and warned that the United States (US) has historically resorted to internal division as a strategy of interference.

—Elia Cruz, reporter for La Hoguera: I want to ask you—the DEA director, Terry Cole, as you have already noted, sometimes has a discourse against Mexico and your government, like last week when he insisted that high-level officials have ties to drug trafficking. But at the same time as he says this, he acknowledges the Security Secretary—the only one in your government, by the way—whom he calls a “friend of the United States” and a “trustworthy person.” Don’t you see in these statements about the Security Secretary that the United States might be steering a narrative to intervene, perhaps, in some processes… in some upcoming electoral processes in Mexico? That is, that it is giving its direct backing to the Security Secretary?

—President: They seek, in one way or another, to weaken governments. That is one of their objectives. And particularly independent governments that defend our sovereignty. To divide us internally. It is one of their strategies—not now, but always. To generate divisions within the Security Cabinet, to generate divisions within the federal Cabinet. These are interference tactics that they use.

To divide us internally is one of their strategies — not now, but always.

Claudia Sheinbaum

What happens is that they run into a wall, because the security Cabinet of the Government of Mexico has enormous coordination and unity. The General Secretary, the Admiral Secretary, Omar, the Interior Secretary, and the Legal Counsel—which are the main institutions that take part in the Cabinet, but particularly the three security institutions as such—have extraordinary coordination, a great deal of collaboration, a great deal of understanding. There are no divisions within.

So they think that by speaking well of one and badly of others they will create internal division, but they fail at this, because they do not succeed. Because there is a great deal of coordination and a great deal of patriotism from everyone, and the defense of Mexico. And let them remember that they have elections in November. So they often use Mexico as part of their election. As we have said: let them deal with their affairs over there; here we deal with our affairs here, and we coordinate. As we have done so far, with very good coordination. And they too have understood our sovereign position. The U.S. Secretary of Security has said it several times: “we respect Mexico’s decision to maintain its sovereignty, and within that framework we are coordinating.”

—Reporter: So you don’t consider this to be a vote for the Secretary of…?

—President: No, what they seek is… and also to influence our elections. But it is an age-old matter. And we just need to be clear that… well, no, there is no division, no problems; even if they speak well of one and badly of another, they do not create internal problems among us. We have… the results we have, a 51 percent reduction in homicides, could not be achieved without coordination within the security Cabinet and with the Attorney General’s Office as well. Because even though the Attorney General’s Office is autonomous, there is a great deal of coordination and collaboration in everything related to organized crime and other offenses. Thank you very much, have a good day.

DEA Director Calls Harfuch a Partner and Friend of the US

This past August 18, the DEA director acknowledged the work of Omar García Harfuch at the head of the Secretariat of Security and Citizen Protection (SSPC) and highlighted his record in combating organized crime.

During the 40th International Drug Enforcement Conference, in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Cole called Harfuch “a trusted partner” and “a good friend of the United States,” and also highlighted his nearly two decades of public service.

“Secretary Harfuch has dedicated nearly two decades of public service to protecting people in Mexico. He served in the Mexican Federal Police, in the Criminal Investigation Agency, led security in Mexico City, and now serves as Secretary of Security and Citizen Protection,” he said.

The DEA director also stressed the importance of Harfuch’s experience in sharing information, identifying criminal leaders, and disrupting the supply chains of organizations dedicated to drug trafficking.

“Omar, Secretary Harfuch, my friend: thank you for your leadership, your friendship, and your partnership. I appreciate that you are here. This delegation appreciates that you are here. These more than 100 countries appreciate that you are here,” Cole expressed.

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