Angered by U.S. criticism of a proposed judicial reform, Mexico’s president has declared “a pause” in relations with the U.S. embassy.

The declaration by Andrés Manuel López Obrador comes after U.S. Ambassador Ken Salazar publicly criticized his push to reform the country’s constitution for the election, not the appointment, of judges to the country’s judicial branch.

“How are we going to let the ambassador, with all due respect, because this isn’t a argument between enemies, but how are we going to permit that he opines that what we’re doing is bad?” López Obrador said in a Tuesday news conference.

The diplomatic tiff comes as López Obrador also faces a major judicial strike, with judges across the country refusing to go to work in opposition to his proposed reform. On Tuesday, Mexico’s Supreme Court justices suspended its sessions in solidarity with the protests.

What US Ambassador Ken Salazar said

Salazar called the reform proposal “a major risk” to the democracy of the United States’ largest trading partner.

“Based on my lifelong experience supporting the rule of law, I believe popular direct election of judges is a major risk to the functioning of Mexican democracy,” Salazar said in a statement posted to the social media site X on Aug. 22.

The debate around direct election of judges “will threaten the historic trade relationship we have built,” he said.

Last year, Mexico surpassed China as the United States’ largest trading partner, according to U.S. Census data.

Salazar has rarely publicly criticized the Mexican president’s actions and has preferred to resolve issues of binational importance behind closed doors, said Duncan Wood, chief executive of the Pacific Council on International Policy.

“Part of the reason why Salazar is feeling empowered to do this now,” he said, “is because it’s coming to the end of the López Obrador administration.” Mexico President-elect Claudia Sheinbaum takes office Oct. 1.

Wood said the “pause” in embassy relations was specific and didn’t refer to the State Department or Biden administration more broadly.

“His words were chosen carefully,” he said. “It’s in part political grandstanding and also a visceral reaction to something said by someone he considered a friend.”

López Obrador also said he would pause relations with the Canadian embassy in Mexico City, following official criticism from that country.

Striking judges disagree with reforms

The proposed constitutional reform in Mexico would allow judges – including Supreme Court justices – to be elected by popular vote.

Sheinbaum, the president-elect, has said she supports the reform and said it includes guard rails against corruption and inexperience, including a committee that will ensure those who wish to run for judicial office are qualified to do so.

Mexico’s striking judges disagree.

“It would be catastrophic if whatever person, without experience, without a notion of the judicial system or the great responsibility that judges have,” Catalina Ruiz, a federal judge protesting the reform in Ciudad Juarez, told Azteca Noticias on Tuesday. “A business person the next day acting as a judge? Just imagine it.”