The British Ambassador to Mexico was quietly dismissed from his position earlier this year after an incident where he aimed an assault rifle at a local embassy employee, which became public after footage of the incident circulated on social media.
According to the Financial Times, Jon Benjamin was on an official trip to Durango and Sinaloa, known for their strong organized crime presence, when he aimed the rifle at a colleague.
The colleague appeared uncomfortable in the five-second clip.
The firearm likely belonged to the security detail accompanying the diplomat, who was fired shortly after the incident in April.
The video was uploaded by an anonymous account on X, previously known as Twitter, with the account criticizing Benjamin for making light of the situation in a country where drug-related killings are a daily occurrence.
Mexico has experienced over 30,000 homicides annually for the past six years, ranking among the highest homicide rates in Latin America, as organized crime factions battle for control of territory and businesses nationwide.
Benjamin’s ambassador status has been removed from the UK government website. He assumed the role of UK ambassador to Mexico in 2021, after serving in various diplomatic positions across several countries over nearly four decades.
The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office did not immediately respond to requests for comment from the Guardian but informed the Financial Times that they took appropriate action in response to the incident, utilizing their robust HR processes to address internal issues.
Historically, diplomatic relations between the UK and Mexico, the second-largest economy in Latin America, have been amicable and non-controversial. The two countries have been negotiating a new free trade agreement since 2022.
This upcoming Sunday, Mexican voters are expected to elect Claudia Sheinbaum as their first female president, succeeding her popular predecessor from the same party, Andrés Manuel López Obrador.
The election campaign has been marred by violence, with over 30 candidates killed and many more withdrawing as organized crime groups attempt to install friendly leaders. On the campaign’s final day, a gunman filmed himself shooting and killing opposition mayoral candidate José Alfredo Cabrera in Coyuca de Benítez, Guerrero, before being gunned down by bodyguards.
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