El Salvador Recalls Ambassador to Mexico Over Allegations of Drug Plane Originating in the Country

El Salvador's President Nayib Bukele has recalled the country's ambassador to Mexico for consultations after Mexico's security chief claimed a plane carrying cocaine originated in El Salvador. Bukele denied the accusation, citing tracking data that showed the plane never entered Salvadoran airspace. The incident has strained relations between the two countries.

SAN SALVADOR, July 2, 2025 (AP) — El Salvador's President Nayib Bukele has recalled the country's ambassador to Mexico for consultations following a claim by Mexico's security chief that a plane carrying cocaine originated in El Salvador. Bukele denied the accusation, citing tracking data that showed the plane never entered Salvadoran airspace. The incident has strained relations between the two countries.

Mexican security secretary Omar García Harfuch stated on Tuesday that authorities had detected a small plane "originating in El Salvador" carrying 428 kilos (940 pounds) of cocaine, and that they had arrested three people. Bukele called the claim "FALSE" in a post on X Wednesday and said he was recalling El Salvador's ambassador Delmy Canas [1].

"We demand an immediate clarification and rectification from the Mexican government," Bukele said separately at a press conference, releasing a video of García Harfuch's statements. According to the Salvadoran president, last week Costa Rica reported "a suspicious aircraft trace northwest of its territory," which triggered a "regional alert" in a Central American air security network [1].

The plane's "trace" indicated that it "entered Costa Rica, briefly disappeared from radar, and then reappeared, heading out toward the Pacific Ocean," Bukele added, underscoring that the three people arrested were Mexican citizens. "Our radars did not register any aerial contact within our territory," said Bukele, who displayed a map he said "clearly shows" the route "well south of El Salvador and Nicaragua" [1].

The trace "was confirmed" by the United States Joint Interagency Task Force South (JIATFS), which "monitors illicit trafficking in the region," he added. "El Salvador does not hide criminals or tolerate drug trafficking. We didn't do it before, and we won't do it now. Nor will we allow them to try to involve us in operations that don't concern us or belong to us," Bukele said [1].

Mexico's Foreign Affairs ministry said it was reviewing the case when asked for comment [3].

The controversy has escalated not only due to the initial claim made by Mexico, but also because of the lack of a direct apology or formal correction—raising concerns about reputational harm to El Salvador [2]. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum addressed the issue briefly during her daily press briefing, stating that the issue was resolved and there was no ill intent [2].

El Salvador's government has called its ambassador in Mexico back for consultations, signaling discontent between the two allied nations. The core of the dispute lies in the lack of evidence supporting Mexico's original claim, coupled with its failure to issue a clear public correction [2].

The incident leaves an uncomfortable strain between two neighboring countries that typically cooperate closely on regional security. Whether Mexico will issue a formal clarification remains to be seen.

References:
[1] https://www.bssnews.net/international/290849
[2] https://elsalvadoren.com/mexico-tarnishes-el-salvadors-reputation-then-downplays-clarification-and-avoids-apology/
[3] https://apnews.com/article/el-salvador-mexico-ambassador-cocaine-8ad287887b0f47e9b223c9c901c1c971