🔗 Share this article

Mexico's head of state Sheinbaum has categorically denied reports that the United States is planning to deploy military forces into the country to combat dominant drug trafficking organizations, stating that she has repeatedly refused such offers from President Trump.

“It’s not going to happen,” the President declared during her regular press briefing on Tuesday. “We do not agree to any form of interventionism or interventionism.”

Background on the Allegations

The President's comments come after a report citing present and past American authorities that the Trump administration has started planning for a operation to deploy US troops and intelligence officers into the neighboring nation.

This information indicated that although the mission was not immediate and no final decision had been made, the early stages of training had already begun along with talks about the extent of the deployment.

Furthermore, the account mentioned that American forces would function under the jurisdiction of the American spy agencies, and that personnel from the CIA would also participate.

The Nation's Reaction

But the Mexican leader was adamant that her country had “no information” about such a proposed incursion, even though she acknowledged that in conversations with Trump, he had proposed to send military support and additional resources to tackle organized crime.

“I have repeatedly stated thank you very much, Mr. Trump. But no, our country is a free, sovereign and sovereign country,” the President affirmed.

Past Collaboration and Present Tensions

The two nations have long collaborated in addressing cartels, with the United States at times dispatching CIA, armed forces and DEA operatives to assist the country's initiatives to fight organized crime.

But the entry of American military into the territory to directly confront the drug lords, especially without Mexico's agreement, would be an unprecedented step that would almost certainly fracture an already tenuous bilateral relationship.

Latest Actions and Understandings

The Trump administration has designated confronting drug-trafficking groups a central pillar of its foreign policy: in February, the US designated six Mexican cartels as terrorist groups.

Additionally, it has initiated a multiple strikes against alleged narco vessels, most recently targeting ships in the Pacific Ocean that resulted in the deaths of 14 alleged traffickers in recent weeks.

While Mexico rescued one of the survivors from the attack, Sheinbaum criticized the strikes and instructed officials from her administration to discuss them with the American envoy to the nation.

On Tuesday, she also noted that Mexico had finalized a cooperation pact with the US 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 sovereignty and our territorial integrity.”

The President's Position on Anti-Narcotics Strategy

The national leader has also seemed less enthusiastic on military-focused drug combat strategies than her predecessors: on Monday, she ruled out any modifications to the nation's security strategy despite the recent brutal killing of a local official in western Mexico.

“There are demands for military action and armed conflict, as happened with the war on drugs,” she said. “That didn’t work.”