Mexico’s week in review: Disaster diplomacy and a persistent peso

This week in Mexico saw President Claudia Sheinbaum taking part in various international initiatives and domestic matters. She began the week by celebrating the 2026 National Reforestation Day in Puebla, expressing her intention to rename the Paso de Cortés, the mountain pass between Popocatépetl and Iztaccíhuatl volcanoes. Later, she shifted her focus to the aftermath of a 7.4-magnitude earthquake in western Colombia, which claimed hundreds of lives.

Sheinbaum pledged Mexico's support in providing all necessary resources for Colombia's rescue efforts, but encountered a diplomatic challenge when Colombia's new government demanded certification that the Mexican team did not possess. Nonetheless, Mexico continued to send humanitarian aid, delivering over 58 tonnes of food, water, and medicine before the end of the week.

In other news, former Guerrero Governor Ángel Aguirre was ordered to stand trial for his alleged role in the 2014 disappearance of 43 Ayotzinapa students. The case, which has been a long-standing human rights tragedy, is now nearing trial nearly 12 years later. Mexico's peso briefly dipped below 17 to the US dollar, marking a return of the "super peso," though analysts attribute it largely to global dollar weakness rather than Mexican fundamentals.

In terms of security, Mexico reported a 51% decrease in daily homicides since Sheinbaum's administration began, with July marking the lowest monthly tally. However, the majority of these murders remain concentrated in just seven states, including Sinaloa. The Navy deployed over 1,700 personnel to Mazatlán due to the city's bloodiest month in July, as fighting between rival Sinaloa Cartel factions spilled into the coastal city.

Meanwhile, Washington tightened its visa policies against Mexican political figures, including López Beltrán, accusing Secretary of State Marco Rubio and his deputy of targeting them politically. Sheinbaum dismissed this as a "politically motivated" move, urging the US to provide evidence against anyone they target while asserting that the dispute would not escalate into a broader conflict.