Sheinbaum Rejects Reports of US Military Action in Mexico

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum on Friday firmly dismissed the possibility of any United States military incursion into Mexico, following reports that US President Donald Trump had authorized the use of force against Latin American drug cartels.

“There will be no invasion of Mexico,” Sheinbaum declared during her regular morning press conference, responding to a New York Times report claiming Trump had secretly signed a directive enabling military operations against cartels labeled as terrorist organizations by his administration.

Sheinbaum said her government had been informed about the order in advance and was assured it did not involve the deployment of US military personnel or institutions on Mexican soil. The Mexican foreign ministry later reinforced that position, stating unequivocally that the country “would not accept the participation of US military forces on our territory.”

The US embassy in Mexico released a statement emphasizing the shared goal of combating drug trafficking. “We will use every tool at our disposal to protect our peoples from violent criminal cartels,” the statement read. US Ambassador Ronald Johnson reiterated the sentiment on X, noting that both countries “face a common enemy: the violent criminal cartels.”

The Pentagon declined to comment, referring inquiries to the White House, which did not immediately confirm the reported directive. According to the Times, Trump’s order could serve as an official basis for military operations at sea or on foreign territory targeting the cartels.

In recent months, the Trump administration has intensified its stance against organized crime in Latin America. In February, it designated eight drug trafficking groups as terrorist organizations — six based in Mexico, one in Venezuela, and another in El Salvador. More recently, it added Venezuela’s Cartel of the Suns to the list, accusing the group of smuggling hundreds of tonnes of narcotics into the US over the past two decades.

The administration also escalated its pressure on Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, doubling a reward for his capture to $50 million, alleging he leads the cartel. Venezuela has rejected the accusations, with Foreign Minister Yvan Gil calling them “the most ridiculous smokescreen we have ever seen.”

Sheinbaum has worked to present Mexico as a cooperative partner in tackling the drug trade, particularly the trafficking of fentanyl, which Trump has repeatedly cited as a major concern. “We are cooperating, we are collaborating, but there will be no invasion. That is absolutely ruled out,” she insisted, adding that in all communications with US officials, Mexico had made its position clear: “This is not permitted.”

Known in political circles as the “Trump whisperer,” Sheinbaum has previously defused tensions with the US president, avoiding threats of trade tariffs and maintaining a working relationship despite sharp disagreements over border security and drug policy.