🔗 Share this article

Mexico's President Claudia Sheinbaum has firmly rejected reports that the US government is considering to send military forces into the country to confront powerful cartels, emphasizing that she has repeatedly refused such offers from Donald Trump.

“This will not occur,” the President stated during her daily morning press briefing on that day. “We are opposed to any process of interference or external interference.”

Background on the Reports

The President's comments follow a news story citing current and former American authorities that the Trump administration has initiated preparations for a mission to deploy American military personnel and agents into the neighboring nation.

This information indicated that although the mission was not imminent and no final decision had been reached, the early stages of training had commenced along with talks about the extent of the deployment.

Additionally, the account stated that US troops would operate under the authority of the US intelligence community, and that personnel from the Central Intelligence Agency would also participate.

The Nation's Reaction

But the Mexican leader was adamant that her nation had “lack of details” about such a planned incursion, although she acknowledged that in phone calls with the US president, he had proposed to send military support and other assistance to confront criminal groups.

“I’ve always said thank you very much, President Trump. But no, our country is a free, sovereign and autonomous nation,” the President affirmed.

Past Cooperation and Current Strains

The two nations have historically worked together in tackling cartels, with the United States at times sending intelligence, military and Drug Enforcement Administration operatives to support Mexico's efforts to combat organized crime.

But the entry of US troops into Mexico to directly confront the drug lords, particularly without the nation's consent, would be an unprecedented step that would almost certainly damage an already tenuous partnership between the two countries.

Latest Actions and Understandings

The US government has made confronting criminal organizations a central pillar of its foreign policy: in February, Washington classified six Mexican cartels as foreign terrorist organizations.

It has also initiated a multiple strikes against alleged narco vessels, most recently targeting vessels in the Pacific Ocean that resulted in the deaths of multiple suspects in late October.

While authorities rescued a survivor from the strike, the President condemned the actions and ordered representatives from her administration to discuss them with the American envoy to Mexico.

On Tuesday, she also highlighted that Mexico had finalized a cooperation pact with the US that was negotiated over several months.

“We will proceed within this cooperative structure, which has defined guidelines … which respects our sovereignty and our territorial integrity.”

The President's Stance on Security Approach

The national leader has also seemed cooler on militarised anti-narcotics tactics than her preceding leaders: on Monday, she ruled out any modifications to the country’s security strategy despite the recent brutal killing of a local official in western Mexico.

“Some are calling for militarization and armed conflict, as occurred with the anti-drug campaign,” she said. “It proved ineffective.”