Portrait of Felipe Calderón
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Felipe Calderón on El Chapo Guzmán

Denies cartel ties (strong)

TL;DR

Felipe Calderón vehemently denies any personal or financial ties to Joaquín 'El Chapo' Guzmán or his cartel.

Key Points

  • He directed a highly militarized confrontation against drug trafficking organizations, including Guzmán's Sinaloa Cartel, throughout his presidency (2006–2012).

  • Calderón publicly stated in 2011 that El Chapo Guzmán might have already been moved to the United States.

  • He has actively dismissed recent claims, often emerging from US court testimony, alleging that his government accepted a US$100 million bribe from Guzmán.

Summary

Felipe Calderón, as president of Mexico, directed a significant, militarized strategy against drug trafficking organizations, including the Sinaloa Cartel led by El Chapo Guzmán. His core position has been one of active confrontation with these criminal groups, emphasizing the state's fight to dismantle their operations and capture their leaders. Despite this official posture, Calderón has repeatedly faced public allegations, often fueled by testimony in U.S. trials, suggesting that his administration may have, at times, tacitly allowed certain cartels to operate while targeting rivals, though he has consistently and publicly rejected any personal involvement or financial support from Guzmán.

The context surrounding his administration's relationship with Guzmán remains highly contentious, particularly following testimony from associates of the drug lord in foreign legal proceedings. While Calderón has firmly stated he does not regret his broader war on drugs, the implications of these allegations—that the administration accepted bribes or made deals—force him to actively defend his legacy against claims of enabling the very kingpins he was sworn to capture. He has specifically denied supporting Guzmán, even as his former officials have faced separate corruption convictions in the United States.

Key Quotes

I never negotiated or made pacts with criminals,” he wrote.

“We have received very encouraging results. In the state of Michoacán, for example, the murder rate has fallen almost 40 percent compared with the average over the last six months. People's support in the regions where we are operating has grown, and that has been very important. Opinion polls have confirmed that, and I think we have made it clear to everyone that this issue is a priority for us”.

Frequently Asked Questions

Felipe Calderón's official position has been to treat El Chapo Guzmán as the leader of a primary criminal threat to the Mexican state. He initiated an aggressive security strategy aimed at dismantling Guzmán's organization, the Sinaloa Cartel.

His fundamental stance of actively combating drug lords has remained consistent, viewing them as enemies of the state. However, he has been forced to repeatedly rebut specific modern allegations suggesting his administration made corrupt deals with the cartel.

In October 2011, the former president indicated publicly that it was possible Joaquín Guzmán had been moved to the United States. Calderón stated that the Mexican government did not have definitive proof of his location at that time.