On the afternoon of May 19, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum announced on her X account that she had received the credentials of the new United States ambassador, Ronald Johnson, at the National Palace.
Who is Ronald Johnson, the new United States ambassador to Mexico?
On April 9, 2025, the United States Senate confirmed Ronald Douglas Johnson as the new U.S. ambassador to Mexico, with 49 votes in favor and 46 against. Johnson is a retired U.S. Army colonel and former Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) officer with more than four decades of experience in security-related issues.
In addition, on May 13, 2025, Ronald Johnson officially assumed the position of ambassador in a ceremony held in Washington, D.C., an event attended by key figures in international politics. Among the attendees were US Vice President JD Vance, as well as the Mexican representative to the United States, Esteban Moctezuma Barragán. The latter expressed his commitment to working together to strengthen ties between the two nations.
During his military career, Johnson participated in various international operations, including missions in Panama, El Salvador, and the Balkans. He later worked as a science and technology liaison with the CIA’s US Special Operations Command.
This is not Ronald Johnson’s first diplomatic post; between 2019 and 2021, he served as the US ambassador to El Salvador during the first administration of former President Donald Trump.
During that time, Ronald Johnson worked closely with Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele, focusing on initiatives related to security and the fight against gangs.
The appointment of Ronald Johnson as U.S. ambassador to Mexico comes at a time when relations between the two countries are facing significant challenges, particularly in areas such as border security and the fight against drug trafficking.
