What the Extradition of 'El Chapo' Guzman Might Mean for US-Mexico Relations Ellen Powell - The Christian Science Monitor
go to original January 21, 2017

Authorities escort Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman from a plane to a waiting caravan of SUVs at Long Island MacArthur Airport on Thursday (U.S. Law Enforcement/Associated Press)

On Thursday evening, Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman was extradited to the United States from Mexico, arriving at MacArthur Airport on Long Island. Although the United States has repeatedly requested the extradition of the notorious drug kingpin, the date of his arrival – on the eve of Donald Trump’s inauguration – caught many officials in both countries off guard.

But the timing may send a message about US-Mexican relations, close observers say, pointing to the need for future cooperation between the two neighbors – especially on the so-called drug war.

Whatever the motive behind the extradition, US officials were quick to herald the move as evidence of the success of bilateral cooperation. President Trump’s rhetoric on Mexico, beginning during the campaign and continuing during the presidential transition suggest a rocky road ahead. But analysts say that cooperation should continue.

“Both countries really have much to gain and much more to lose from an antagonistic relationship,” Chris Wilson, the deputy director of the Mexico Institute at the Wilson Center in Washington, D.C., tells The Christian Science Monitor in a phone interview.

Over the past 10 years, the two countries have enjoyed “an unprecedented level of cooperation” on security issues, Octavio Rodriguez Ferreira, the program coordinator for Justice in Mexico, a research project based at the University of San Diego, tells the Monitor, and Guzman's capture testifies to that teamwork.

At a press conference in New York on Friday, officials described the extradition as a “triumph of the rule of law” and evidence of a bilateral “commitment to justice.” Guzman, who faces a 17-count indictment, entered a "not guilty" plea in federal court in Brooklyn, NY, on Friday. His next court appearance is set for February 3.

The day before, Mexican deputy attorney general Elias Beltran stated that the timing of Guzman’s extradition was purely coincidental.

Read the rest at The Christian Science Monitor

Related: Reports: Mexico Timed El Chapo Extradition to Deny Trump an Early Political Victory (Hot Air)

Related: Why El Chapo’s Extradition from Mexico Surprised U.S. Officials (NBC News)

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