Shannon O'Neil, Columnist

Don't Let Mexico's Elections Become Putin's Next Target

If Russia wants to make life difficult for the U.S., Mexico's big vote next year offers rich opportunities.

November 9, 2017 at 1:00 PM UTC

Shannon O'Neil is senior vice president and director of studies at the Council on Foreign Relations and author of "The Globalization Myth: Why Regions Matter."

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Russia's interference in the 2016 U.S. presidential election has been confirmed by no fewer than 17 U.S. intelligence and security agencies. Widespread evidence exists that Moscow’s spy services also sought to influence contests held in the Netherlands, France and Germany. Many worry out loud about possible Russian machinations in Italy’s general election next May.

Yet if Russia truly wants to damage the U.S. and weaken the western world order, Mexico’s elections next year offer a more rewarding and more vulnerable target.