Mexico's head of state Claudia Sheinbaum has firmly denied allegations that the US government is planning to deploy troops into the country to combat powerful drug trafficking organizations, stating that she has consistently refused such offers from President Trump.
“This will not occur,” Sheinbaum declared during her regular news conference on that day. “We do not agree to any process of interventionism or interventionism.”
Background on the Allegations
Sheinbaum's comments follow a news story citing current and former American authorities that the US government has started planning for a operation to deploy US troops and intelligence officers into Mexico.
The report suggested that although the mission was not immediate and no final decision had been reached, the initial phases of training had already begun along with talks about the scope of the operation.
Furthermore, the report mentioned that American forces would function under the jurisdiction of the US intelligence community, and that officers from the CIA would take part as well.
Mexico's Response
But Sheinbaum was adamant 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 military support and other assistance to confront criminal groups.
“I have repeatedly stated my gratitude, Mr. Trump. But absolutely not, our country is a free, independent and autonomous nation,” Sheinbaum affirmed.
Historical Cooperation and Present Tensions
The two nations have historically worked together in addressing drug-trafficking groups, with the US at times dispatching CIA, armed forces and Drug Enforcement Administration operatives to assist the country's efforts to fight criminal networks.
But the entry of US troops into the territory to directly confront the cartels, particularly without Mexico's consent, would be an unheard-of step that would almost certainly damage an fragile bilateral relationship.
Latest Actions and Agreements
The US government has made addressing criminal organizations a central pillar of its international strategy: in February, the US designated multiple drug cartels as foreign terrorist organizations.
Additionally, it has launched a multiple strikes against alleged narco vessels, most recently targeting ships in the eastern Pacific that resulted in the deaths of multiple suspects in late October.
Although authorities saved a survivor from the attack, Sheinbaum condemned the strikes and ordered representatives from her government to address them with the US ambassador to Mexico.
On that day, Sheinbaum also noted that Mexico had reached a security agreement with the United States that was negotiated over an extended period.
“We will proceed within this framework of understanding, which has very clear principles … which honors our sovereignty and our territorial integrity.”
Sheinbaum's Stance on Security Strategy
The national leader has also seemed cooler on militarised drug combat strategies than her predecessors: on Monday, she dismissed any modifications to the nation's security strategy despite the murder of a local official in a Mexican state.
“There are demands for militarization and armed conflict, as occurred with the anti-drug campaign,” she said. “That didn’t work.”
