Mexico's Leader Sheinbaum Rejects Reports of American Military Intervention in Mexico

The nation's President Sheinbaum has categorically denied reports that the United States is considering to send troops into the country to confront dominant drug trafficking organizations, emphasizing that she has consistently refused such proposals from Donald Trump.

“It’s not going to happen,” Sheinbaum stated during her regular news conference on that day. “We do not agree to any process of interference or external interference.”

Context on the Reports

Sheinbaum's remarks come after a news story citing present and past US officials that the Trump administration has initiated preparations for a mission to deploy US troops and intelligence officers into the neighboring nation.

This information suggested that although the operation was not imminent and a conclusive choice had been reached, the initial phases of training had commenced along with talks about the scope of the deployment.

Furthermore, the account mentioned that American forces would function under the authority of the American spy agencies, and that officers from the Central Intelligence Agency would also participate.

The Nation's Response

But the Mexican leader was insistent that her country had “no information” about such a proposed intervention, even though she acknowledged that in phone calls with the US president, he had offered to send military support and other assistance to confront organized crime.

“I have repeatedly stated thank you very much, President Trump. But no, Mexico is a free, sovereign and sovereign nation,” the President declared.

Historical Cooperation and Current Tensions

The two nations have long collaborated in addressing cartels, with the United States at times sending intelligence, military and DEA operatives to assist the country's initiatives to fight criminal networks.

But the incursion of American military into Mexico to engage with the cartels, particularly without Mexico's consent, would be an unprecedented move that would almost certainly damage an already tenuous partnership between the two countries.

Latest Measures and Agreements

The US government has made addressing criminal organizations a central pillar of its international strategy: in last winter, the US designated multiple drug cartels as foreign terrorist organizations.

Additionally, it has launched a multiple strikes against suspected narco vessels, most recently targeting vessels in the eastern Pacific that resulted in the deaths of 14 alleged traffickers in late October.

While authorities saved one of the survivors from the attack, the President criticized the actions and ordered representatives from her government to discuss them with the American envoy to Mexico.

On Tuesday, Sheinbaum also highlighted that the country had finalized a cooperation pact with the United States that was discussed over several months.

“We are going to continue working within this cooperative structure, which has defined guidelines … which honors our sovereignty and our territoriality.”

Sheinbaum's Stance on Anti-Narcotics Strategy

The national leader has also seemed cooler on militarised anti-narcotics tactics than her predecessors: on the previous day, she dismissed any changes to the nation's safety approach despite the recent brutal killing of a mayor in a Mexican state.

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

Valerie Palmer
Valerie Palmer

Full-stack developer with over a decade of experience in JavaScript, React, and Node.js, passionate about teaching and open-source projects.