🔗 Share this article Mexico's President Claudia Sheinbaum Rejects Claims of US Troop Deployment in Mexico The nation's President Sheinbaum has categorically rejected allegations that the United States is planning to send military forces into the country to confront powerful drug trafficking organizations, emphasizing that she has repeatedly refused such offers from President Trump. “This will not occur,” Sheinbaum declared during her regular press briefing on that day. “We do not agree to any form of interference or interventionism.” Context on the Reports Sheinbaum's comments follow a news story citing present and past American authorities that the Trump administration has initiated preparations for a operation to deploy US troops and agents into Mexico. The report indicated that although the mission was not immediate and no final decision had been reached, the early stages of preparation had already begun along with talks about the scope of the deployment. Furthermore, the report mentioned that US troops would function under the authority of the American spy agencies, and that personnel from the CIA would also participate. Mexico's Response But the Mexican leader was adamant that her nation had “no information” about such a proposed intervention, even though she admitted that in conversations with Trump, he had offered to dispatch troops and additional resources to tackle organized crime. “I have repeatedly stated thank you very much, Mr. Trump. But absolutely not, Mexico is a independent, independent and sovereign nation,” the President affirmed. Historical Cooperation and Current Tensions The two nations have historically worked together in tackling drug-trafficking groups, with the United States at times sending intelligence, military and DEA operatives to support Mexico's initiatives to combat organized crime. But the incursion of US troops into Mexico to engage with the cartels, particularly without the nation's consent, would be an unprecedented move that would likely fracture an fragile bilateral relationship. Recent Measures and Agreements The US government has made addressing criminal organizations a central pillar of its foreign policy: in February, Washington designated six Mexican cartels as foreign terrorist organizations. It has also initiated a series of attacks against suspected drug-trafficking boats, most recently targeting ships in the Pacific Ocean that killed multiple suspects in late October. While Mexico rescued one of the survivors from the strike, the President condemned the actions and ordered officials from her government to address them with the American envoy to the nation. On Tuesday, she also noted that Mexico had reached a cooperation pact with the United States that was discussed over several months. “We will proceed within this framework of understanding, which has defined guidelines … which respects our independence and our territoriality.” The President's Position on Security Strategy The Mexican president has also seemed less enthusiastic on militarised drug combat strategies than her preceding leaders: on the previous day, she dismissed any modifications to the nation's security strategy despite the recent brutal killing of a mayor in a Mexican state. “Some are calling for military action and armed conflict, as occurred with the anti-drug campaign,” Sheinbaum commented. “It proved ineffective.”