Mexico’s Sheinbaum Rejects US Military Action on Cartels After Talks With Trump
Mexico’s President Claudia Sheinbaum has said that US military intervention against drug cartels is unnecessary, following what she described as a constructive conversation with Donald Trump. Her remarks come amid renewed debate over cross-border security cooperation and how Washington and Mexico City should confront organised crime.
Speaking on Monday, Sheinbaum said she had a very good exchange with Trump and stressed that both governments agreed to continue working together on security matters through existing frameworks. She made clear that while cartel violence remains a serious challenge for Mexico, sovereignty and cooperation, rather than foreign military action, must guide the response.
The comments follow repeated suggestions from US political figures that Washington should consider direct action against powerful drug cartels operating in Mexico. Those proposals have sparked concern in Mexico, where leaders across the political spectrum have warned that any unilateral intervention would violate national sovereignty and risk destabilising bilateral relations.
Sheinbaum said Mexico remains committed to joint efforts with the United States, including intelligence sharing, policing cooperation, and tackling the financial networks that sustain organised crime. She emphasised that these measures can be pursued effectively without deploying US troops on Mexican soil. According to the president, the focus should remain on coordination, prevention, and addressing the social roots of violence.
Mexico has long pushed back against the idea of foreign military involvement, pointing to past experiences in the region where such interventions failed to bring lasting security. Sheinbaum reiterated that Mexico’s strategy prioritises strengthening domestic institutions, improving law enforcement capacity, and investing in social programmes aimed at reducing recruitment into criminal groups.
The conversation with Trump comes at a sensitive time in US-Mexico relations. Drug trafficking, particularly of synthetic opioids such as fentanyl, remains a major political issue in the United States, where overdose deaths continue to draw public anger. Some US politicians argue that Mexico has not done enough to dismantle cartel operations, while Mexican officials counter that demand and weapons flows from the US also play a central role in the crisis.
Sheinbaum said the two leaders discussed shared responsibility and the need for a balanced approach. She noted that cooperation must include efforts to curb the illegal flow of firearms from the United States into Mexico, which authorities say fuels cartel violence. Without addressing that issue, she argued, enforcement actions alone will have limited impact.
Analysts say Sheinbaum’s firm but measured stance reflects an effort to maintain a working relationship with Washington while drawing clear red lines. By publicly rejecting military intervention, she is reinforcing a long-standing Mexican position, while her emphasis on dialogue suggests a desire to avoid escalating tensions with the US administration.
Trump, for his part, has previously taken a hard line on cartels, describing them as a national security threat. However, following the call, US officials signalled that cooperation with Mexico would continue through existing security mechanisms rather than through direct intervention. No immediate policy changes were announced.
Public reaction in Mexico has been mixed. Many welcomed Sheinbaum’s defence of sovereignty, seeing it as essential to preserving national dignity. Others remain sceptical about whether current strategies can significantly reduce cartel power without more aggressive enforcement.
The exchange highlights the delicate balance Mexico must strike. On one hand, it faces pressure from its most important trading partner to deliver results on security. On the other, it must reassure its own population that cooperation does not come at the cost of independence.
As violence linked to organised crime continues to affect communities on both sides of the border, Sheinbaum’s message was clear. Mexico is open to partnership, but not to foreign military action, and any solution must respect national sovereignty while addressing the shared nature of the problem.
