🔗 Share this article

Mexico's President Claudia Sheinbaum has firmly denied allegations that the United States is considering to send troops into Mexico to confront dominant drug trafficking organizations, stating that she has repeatedly declined such offers from President Trump.

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

Context on the Reports

The President's remarks come after a report citing current and former American authorities that the US government has started planning for a operation to deploy US troops and agents into the neighboring nation.

This information indicated that although the operation was not imminent and no final decision had been reached, the initial phases of preparation had already begun along with discussions about the extent of the operation.

Additionally, the account stated that American forces would operate under the authority of the US intelligence community, and that personnel from the Central Intelligence Agency would take part as well.

The Nation's Reaction

But the Mexican leader was insistent that her country had “lack of details” about such a planned intervention, even though she acknowledged that in phone calls with the US president, he had proposed to send troops and additional resources to tackle organized crime.

“I have repeatedly stated thank you very much, Mr. Trump. But no, our country is a independent, independent and autonomous nation,” Sheinbaum declared.

Historical Cooperation and Current Tensions

Mexico and the US have historically worked together in tackling cartels, with the US at times dispatching CIA, armed forces and Drug Enforcement Administration agents to support the country's initiatives to fight organized crime.

But the entry of US troops into the territory to directly confront the cartels, particularly without the nation's consent, would be an unheard-of move that would almost certainly fracture an fragile bilateral relationship.

Latest Measures and Agreements

The Trump administration has designated confronting criminal organizations a key element of its international strategy: in last winter, the US classified multiple drug cartels as terrorist groups.

It has also launched a series of attacks against suspected drug-trafficking boats, including striking vessels in the Pacific Ocean that killed 14 alleged traffickers in late October.

Although authorities rescued one of the survivors from the strike, Sheinbaum condemned the actions and ordered representatives from her administration to address them with the US ambassador to the nation.

On Tuesday, she also highlighted that the country had reached a cooperation pact with the United States that was discussed over an extended period.

“We are going to continue working within this framework of understanding, which has defined guidelines … which honors our independence and our territoriality.”

The President's Stance on Security Strategy

The Mexican president has also appeared cooler on militarised anti-narcotics tactics than her preceding leaders: on Monday, she dismissed any changes to the country’s security strategy despite the murder of a mayor in western Mexico.

“Some are calling for military action and armed conflict, as occurred with the anti-drug campaign,” she said. “That didn’t work.”