Mexico's Leader Claudia Sheinbaum Rejects Claims of US Troop Deployment in Mexico
Mexico's President Sheinbaum has firmly denied allegations that the US government is planning to send troops into Mexico to confront powerful drug trafficking organizations, stating that she has consistently declined such offers from Donald Trump.
“It’s not going to happen,” Sheinbaum stated during her daily morning press briefing on Tuesday. “We are opposed to any process of interference or external interference.”
Context on the Allegations
Sheinbaum's comments follow a news story quoting present and past US officials that the US government has started planning for a mission to deploy US troops and agents into Mexico.
This information indicated that although the operation was not immediate and no final decision had been made, the early stages of training had already begun along with talks about the scope of the operation.
Additionally, the account stated that US troops would function under the jurisdiction of the American spy agencies, and that officers from the CIA would take part as well.
The Nation's Response
But Sheinbaum was insistent that her nation had “no information” about such a planned intervention, even though she admitted that in conversations with the US president, he had offered to send military support and other assistance to tackle criminal groups.
“I have repeatedly stated thank you very much, Mr. Trump. But absolutely not, our country is a free, sovereign and autonomous country,” the President affirmed.
Past Collaboration and Current Strains
The two nations have historically worked together in tackling cartels, with the US at times sending intelligence, military and DEA agents to assist the country's initiatives to fight organized crime.
But the incursion of American military into the territory to directly confront the drug lords, particularly without the nation's consent, would be an unheard-of step that would almost certainly damage an fragile bilateral relationship.
Latest Actions and Agreements
The Trump administration has designated addressing criminal organizations a key element of its foreign policy: in last winter, Washington designated multiple drug cartels as terrorist groups.
It has also launched a multiple strikes against alleged drug-trafficking boats, most recently targeting vessels in the eastern Pacific that resulted in the deaths of multiple suspects in recent weeks.
While authorities saved one of the survivors from the strike, the President criticized the actions and ordered officials from her administration to address them with the American envoy to the nation.
On Tuesday, Sheinbaum also noted that Mexico had finalized a cooperation pact with the United States that was discussed over several months.
“We are going to continue working within this framework of understanding, which has defined guidelines … which respects our independence and our territorial integrity.”
The President's Stance on Security Strategy
The national leader has also seemed cooler on militarised anti-narcotics tactics than her preceding leaders: on the previous day, she ruled out any modifications to the nation's security strategy despite the recent brutal killing of a mayor in a Mexican state.
“There are demands for militarization and armed conflict, as happened with the anti-drug campaign,” Sheinbaum commented. “That didn’t work.”