Chile's experience with Pinochet's trial helps to understand why Mexico wants Cienfuegos back. When right-wing dictator General Pinochet was arrested in the UK, Chile's Socialist government did everything it could to bring him back to Chile. [1/n] https://twitter.com/CBarreraDiaz/status/1328854826445385742

In spite of the Chilean left having fought tirelessly to bring Pinochet down, the Lagos administration publicly demanded that the general first be brought to justice in Chile (even if privately they were thrilled). [2/n]

A Spanish judge (Baltasar Garzón) had asked for Pinochet's arrest and extradition to Spain, and Chile fought hard against this. Chile even recalled its ambassador from the UK in protest. [3/n]

In spite of everything Pinochet had done (the human rights abuses, the secret bank accounts, the end of Chile's democracy), Chile's Socialist government considered the UK and Spain's actions as an attack on Chile's national sovereignty. [4/n]

It is not difficult to see why Mexico's government would want General Cienfuegos back in Mexico. Regardless of whether Cienfuegos is guilty of the charges against him, his arrest and trial in US soil is also seen as an attack on national sovereignty. [5/n]

And just as the Chilean military saw Pinochet's arrest in the UK as abusive and humiliating, the Mexican armed forces are dismayed by the US decision to keep the Mexico in the dark. [6/n]

Mexico's protest over the arrest and trial and a major diplomatic effort would be par for the course for most Mexican presidents. Given how much AMLO has relied on the armed forces, this was a no brainer for him. [7/n]

That Mexico would try to bring Cienfuegos back was not surprising. That the US would grant this wish certainly was. [end]