International
Spain deems king Felipe VI’s exclusion from Mexico’s inauguration “unacceptable”
The Spanish government has deemed it “unacceptable” that King Felipe VI has not been invited to the inauguration of Mexico’s elected president, Claudia Sheinbaum, scheduled for October 1 in Mexico City. As a result, Spain has decided not to participate in the ceremony at any level, according to a statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Sheinbaum, the official candidate from Mexico, secured a decisive victory over opposition candidate Xóchitl Gálvez in the presidential elections held on June 3. Following her win, the outgoing president of Mexico, Andrés Manuel López Obrador, indicated that the new president might resume bilateral relations, which were put on “pause” in 2022 due to a perceived “lack of respect” from the Spanish side.
“Now that changes are taking place, there is an opportunity with President Claudia Sheinbaum, who is a very intelligent, very respectful, and very fraternal woman, and who also understands the history of Mexico and the world,” López Obrador stated during a conference last July.
In 2022, López Obrador once again directed his criticisms towards Spain, a pattern he has followed since taking office in December 2018. He paused relations between the two countries and called for an apology from King Felipe VI regarding the Conquest.
In March 2019, he sent a letter to the monarch demanding that “the Spanish State acknowledges its historical responsibility” for the offenses committed during the conquest and “offers the apologies or political reparations that are appropriate,” a request that has never received a response.
Traditionally, King Felipe has attended the inaugurations of Ibero-American presidents, first as Prince of Asturias and later as King. However, on various occasions and for different reasons, the representation has fallen to another high-ranking official of the State.
International
Trump Delays Potential Iran Strikes as Regional Peace Talks Continue
Donald Trump announced a new deadline for potential military action against Iran, saying he would temporarily delay planned strikes while regional negotiators continue efforts to secure a peace agreement.
Speaking at the White House, Trump said he decided to postpone the operation after receiving requests from the leaders of Qatar, Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates.
The U.S. president explained that the pause would remain in place for only a limited period, adding that discussions could continue through the end of the week or early next week.
Trump also warned that military action remained a possibility if negotiations fail to produce results, stressing that the United States could not allow Iran to acquire a nuclear weapon.
“Maybe we’ll have to hit them again,” Trump said, referring to Iran while reiterating his willingness to resume military operations if necessary.
International
FAO Urges Urgent Action as Hormuz Disruption Threatens Global Food Supply
A prolonged closure of the Strait of Hormuz could trigger a “systemic agri-food shock” capable of causing a major global food price crisis within six to twelve months, the Food and Agriculture Organization warned on Wednesday.
Before the recent attacks launched by United States and Israel against Iran, roughly one-fifth of the world’s seaborne oil shipments passed through the strategic waterway.
The UN agency said the disruption should not be viewed as a temporary shipping issue, but rather as the beginning of a broader global agro-food crisis with potential long-term economic consequences.
The FAO urged governments to establish alternative trade routes, avoid export restrictions, protect humanitarian supply chains and build reserves to absorb rising transportation costs.
Máximo Torero said countries must urgently strengthen their resilience and prepare for the potential impact of disruptions linked to the maritime bottleneck.
According to the organization, the window for preventive action is rapidly closing.
International
U.S. Sanctions Alleged Sinaloa Cartel Money Launderers Linked to Fentanyl Trade
The U.S. Department of the Treasury announced sanctions on Wednesday against more than a dozen individuals and companies allegedly linked to Mexico’s Sinaloa Cartel, accusing them of laundering money connected to fentanyl trafficking operations.
Among those targeted are Armando Ojeda Avilés, identified by U.S. authorities as a leading money laundering operator for the cartel, and Jesús “Chuy” González Peñuela, who has been subject to a $5 million reward since January 2024.
According to the sanctions list released by the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), other individuals sanctioned include Jesús Alonso Aispuro, described as the network’s financial chief, and Rodrigo Alarcón Palomares, accused of overseeing cash collection operations in the United States.
Relatives of the alleged cartel figures were also sanctioned for managing businesses reportedly tied to the network, including the security company Grupo Especial Mamba Negra and the restaurant Gorditas Chiwas in Chihuahua, Mexico.
The Sinaloa Cartel was designated a narcoterrorist organization last year under an order issued by U.S. President Donald Trump and has since become a major focus of U.S. law enforcement efforts.
Two weeks ago, prosecutors in New York’s Southern District accused Sinaloa Governor Rubén Rocha Moya and several associates of collaborating with the cartel, a development that increased tensions with the administration of Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum.
Trump Delays Potential Iran Strikes as Regional Peace Talks Continue
FAO Urges Urgent Action as Hormuz Disruption Threatens Global Food Supply
U.S. Sanctions Alleged Sinaloa Cartel Money Launderers Linked to Fentanyl Trade
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