Mexico’s President Claims U.S. Government Behind Train Project Opposition

Mexico’s president claims the U.S. government is funding environmental groups attempting to block one of his pet projects — a rail project near the resort of Cancun. As a result, this week, he reclassified the project as one of national security importance.

Dubbed the Mayan Train, the unfinished rail project is meant to unite various tourist resort cities near Cancun. According to Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador (AMLO), the project would connect major Mayan Riviera resort cities, creating thousands of jobs and will bring economic benefit to the country. However, various groups and NGOs in Mexico attempted to derail the project, claiming that it would cause irreparable damage to the country’s jungle areas. Those groups filed for multiple court injunctions in an attempt to stop construction.

During a news conference, Mexico’s president defended his decision to label the project as one of national security by claiming that there was foreign interference from the U.S. government. Under the claim that the project was a national security issue, Lopez Obrador ordered construction to resume. As part of his rhetoric, AMLO has been calling his opposers  “traitors” and claimed they are funded by and working for a foreign government.

“This is a national security issue for many reasons because a foreign government is interfering,” Lopez Obrador said. “Pseudo environmentalists come from Mexico City and other parts of the country, financed by the government of the United States, and they file these injunctions against us.”

In an interview with the Associated Press, environmental activist Pepe Urbina said AMLO’s claims were untrue. The activist told the publication that he works as a professional driver and does not receive foreign funding.

“They are slandering us, by claiming we work for the U.S. government,” Urbina said. “It is absurd.”

According to Mexico’s El Financiero, Lopez Obrador previously singled out an organization called Mexicanos Contra La Corrupcion e Impunidad (Mexicans Against Corruption and Impunity) with claims that they receive funding from the U.S. government.

Ildefonso Ortiz is an award-winning journalist with Breitbart Texas. He co-founded Breitbart Texas’ Cartel Chronicles project with Brandon Darby and senior Breitbart management. You can follow him on Twitter and on Facebook. He can be contacted at Iortiz@breitbart.com. 

Brandon Darby is the managing director and editor-in-chief of Breitbart Texas. He co-founded Breitbart Texas’ Cartel Chronicles project with Ildefonso Ortiz and senior Breitbart management. Follow him on Twitter and Facebook. He can be contacted at bdarby@breitbart.com.     

Luisana Moreno is a contributing writer for Breitbart Texas.