Editor's note: Hamzah Rifaat Hussain is a host for ThinkTech Hawaii. The article reflects the author's opinions and not necessarily the views of CGTN.

The central tenets of international law dealing with state sovereignty are clear. An independent government has the right to govern its internal affairs within its given territory and geographical limits without outside interference. On the other hand, activities contravening principles of non-intervention in international law include brazen interference in political activities through financial support to nefarious elements that undermine the writ of the receiving state. American actions in neighboring Mexico constitute the latter, as it continues to disregard international law by funding disruptive elements as a systematic attempt to undermine the government of Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador. 

Such violations are obvious. President Obrador's comments on American intervention at a news briefing on May 3 came straight after a meeting with American Homeland Security adviser Liz Sherwood-Randall for discussions on ending U.S. asylum restrictions at the U.S.-Mexico border. In a letter submitted to the Joe Biden administration, he called out Washington's agenda of leveraging organizations such as the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) to fund groups that are hostile to Mexico. 

President Obrador had previously sent a diplomatic note in 2021 that questioned USAID contributions to organizations such as Mexicans Against Corruption and Impunity and Article 19. The 2021 MCCI Quarterly Progress Reports were critical of the Obrador administration's anti-corruption policies and openly questioned the democratic credentials of Mexico. However, they ignored the administration's well documented promotion of institutional renewal and reorientation of the country's neoliberal focus towards improving the working class population and tackling corruption through austerity measures.

Fittingly, in 2021 President Obrador equated American strategies as a "coup" and an affront to Mexico's sovereignty. Unfortunately, previous calls to the United States to refrain from interfering in Mexican affairs has not resulted in the Biden administration changing course in 2023. The U.S. proposed budget for the fiscal year in 2024 appropriates $63.1 billion for USAID and the State Department to carry out what U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken considers to be "extraordinary global efforts for a more peaceful, securer and prosperous world order."

The problem, however, is that there is nothing extraordinary about the USAID's role in purportedly promoting a peaceful, secure and prosperous world order as activities in Mexico remain less focused on socioeconomic development of the population and more in line with leveraging groups such as the MCCI for political gains.

The departure from reality, including attempts to police the Mexican state and undermine the legitimate rule of President Obrador is similar to historical policies employed by the United States in other countries in Central and Latin America. One such example is Bolivia where democracy promotion programs such as the USAID funded Chemonics International with $15 million worth of contracts in La Paz only served to undermine growing support of the Movement towards Socialism party in the country. 

Similarly, the Office for Transition Initiatives which was billed as a bureau of USAID to combat terrorism, promote stabilization of the Bolivian economy and prevent democratic backsliding, turned towards funding and supporting separatist movements in the East. It attempted to split the country into two states where one is governed by the indigenous majority while the other is governed by European descended elites with a clear monopoly over local resources. Such plans were not aimed at socioeconomic transitions but undermining the government of former Bolivian President Evo Morales instead. 

In Mexico in 2023, the Biden administration is adopting the same strategy of supporting agitation and turmoil. The USAID funding of hostile groups follows President Obrador calling out the Biden administration in April 2023 over spying and interference over the prosecution of 28 members of the Sinaloa drug cartel. 

U.S. interference ignored the Obrador government's indigenous efforts to tackle drug trafficking while simultaneously ensuring domestic security and public safety for all Mexicans. Such meddling also ensured that the fentanyl crisis, which caused 70,000 deaths per year, continued unabated despite the President making it clear that Mexico is willing to cooperate with the United States to tackle drug smuggling – but not at the cost of its state sovereignty being violated.

Abusive interference and espionage over unauthorized operations by narcotic forces alongside aid organizations being used for agitation in 2023 is a blatant failure of the Biden administration's foreign policy towards countries such as Mexico. By violating what is enshrined in international law regarding non-interference, developing countries in Central America are becoming increasingly disillusioned by the credibility of American programs and funding activities. Countries such as Mexico realize the importance of maintaining autonomy, independence and freedom to make decisions for the wellbeing of their respective populations in the face of domineering behavior from respective U.S. administrations.

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