Mexico slashes invasion threat after Trump orders cartel crackdown.

Mexico Reaffirms Sovereignty Amid U.S. Cartel Directive

Mexico’s President Claudia Sheinbaum addressed a U.S. military strategy targeting Latin American drug cartels, affirming that the country will not allow foreign forces on Mexican soil. Sheinbaum’s statement came after The New York Times revealed that former U.S. President Donald Trump had ordered the military to engage cartels declared as terrorist organizations.

Key Points from Sheinbaum’s Statement

• No Mexican Invasion: Sheinbaum reiterated that Mexico would not allow U.S. military participation within its borders.
• Executive Order Clarified: Sheinbaum reported that the order did not involve any military personnel or institutions on Mexican territory.
• Foreign Ministry Position: The Mexican foreign ministry later confirmed that the country would not accept the presence of U.S. military forces on its land.

U.S. Response

The U.S. Embassy in Mexico stated that both nations would use “every tool at our disposal” to protect their peoples from drug trafficking groups. U.S. ambassador Ronald Johnson highlighted the common enemy: violent criminal cartels.

Pentagon’s Query

The Pentagon referred questions about the directive to the White House, which has not yet confirmed the order. The Times reported that the Trump order would provide an official basis for military operations on sea or foreign soil against cartels.

Trump’s Cartel Designations

• Eight drug trafficking groups were designated as terrorist organizations in February. Six are Mexican, one is Venezuelan, and the fourth originates in El Salvador.
• In recent weeks, the administration added the Venezuelan gang Cartel of the Suns, which has shipped hundreds of tons of narcotics into the United States over two decades.
• The U.S. Justice Department increased its bounty on Venezuela’s President Nicolas Maduro to $50 million, accusing him of leading the Cartel of the Suns.

Venezuelan Opposition

Venezuela dismissed the allegations. Foreign Minister Yvan Gil called the accusations “the most ridiculous smokescreen we have ever seen.”

Sheinbaum’s Collaboration

Sheinbaum has been working to demonstrate to Trump that Mexico is actively combating its own cartels, arguing that the cartels flood the United States with drugs, especially fentanyl. “We are cooperating, we are collaborating, but there will be no invasion,” she said during an every call with U.S. officials, insisting that this is not permitted.

Reputation and Relations

At 63, President Sheinbaum has earned the nickname “Trump whisperer” for securing reprieves from Trump’s threats of steep tariffs over smuggling of drugs and migrants across the shared border.