UK Ambassador to Mexico Jon Benjamin Fired After Pointing a Gun at His Staff

The UK has fired its Ambassador to Mexico, but this was not because of a diplomatic spat but because Ambassador Jon Benjamin pointed a gun at his own staff as a joke. The incident was revealed thanks to a viral video that is now circulating on social media, which has embarrassed the United Kingdom government.

In the video, first believed to be posted on X, formerly Twitter, now-former Ambassador Jon Benjamin can be seen pointing an assault rifle at a local embassy employee in a car. The post's caption read, "In a context of daily killings in Mexico by drug dealers, he dares to joke."

Benjamin was in the front seat of the vehicle when he picked up a rifle and aimed it at the unnamed employee who was sitting in the backseat, claiming it was a joke.

The incident reportedly happened while the UK ambassador was on an official trip to the states of Durango and Sinaloa back in April, according to Reuters. However, he was not removed from office until last Friday, after the video started circulating on social media.

Benjamin has already updated his LinkedIn page and said that his term as ambassador ended in May and is currently "in transition." Meanwhile, the United Kingdom government's website also updated his online diplomatic profile and stated that he "was UK Ambassador to Mexico between 2021 and 2024."

While Benjamin says this was supposed to be a joke, many are not laughing as Mexico has been reeling from drug violence for years as the drug cartels have stood defiant while also turning many parts of Mexico into a warzone as they compete with one another for drug trafficking routes into the US and Europe.

UK Government Issues Statement on Firing of Former Ambassador to Mexico Jon Benjamin

Soon after Benjamin was fired over his joke, the United Kingdom government answered several news agencies regarding the incident via an official statement that read, "We are aware of this incident and have taken appropriate action. Where internal issues do arise, the FCDO (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) has robust Human Resources processes to address them."

According to DW, before he served as the UK's ambassador to Mexico, he also represented the European nation in other countries, including Chile, Ghana, Turkey, Indonesia, and the United States. He began his post in Mexico in 2021.

Who Will Replace Jon Benjamin as the UK Ambassador to Mexico After His Firing?

As for who will actually replace Benjamin now that he has been booted out of his post, the UK government has not named anybody yet. Instead, as international protocol says, he would be replaced by the UK's charge d'affaires at its embassy in Mexico City for now.

Currently, the UK's charge d'affaires in Mexico is Rachel Brazier, who only started the job back in April. She will now serve as the UK Embassy to Mexico's chief of mission in the absence of the ambassador, according to the Associated Press.

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Rick Martin

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