Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum has confirmed that she rejected the idea of U.S. military involvement in combating drug cartels after a productive discussion with President Donald Trump regarding security and drug trafficking. During her daily briefing, Sheinbaum disclosed that she turned down offers of military assistance from Trump and firmly dismissed the possibility of U.S. military intervention in Mexico. She emphasized the importance of maintaining collaboration while upholding Mexico’s sovereignty, stating that they aim for coordination without subordination.
Earlier the same day, Sheinbaum mentioned in a social media post that her conversation with Trump focused on respecting Mexico’s sovereignty, combating drug trafficking, as well as discussing trade and investment. Trump recently implied on Fox News that Mexican cartels were in control of the country and suggested potential military strikes on land targets to combat them.
In a separate development, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio engaged in discussions with Mexican Foreign Minister Juan Ramón de la Fuente to underscore the necessity for enhanced cooperation in dismantling Mexico’s violent narco-terrorist networks and preventing the trafficking of fentanyl and weapons. Sheinbaum also highlighted during her briefing that the trafficking of fentanyl from Mexico to the U.S. had decreased by approximately 50% in the past year.
Furthermore, Sheinbaum clarified that she did not engage in discussions about Cuba with Trump following his statements about cutting off Venezuelan oil and money to Cuba post the capture of Venezuela’s President Nicolás Maduro. She expressed Mexico’s willingness to facilitate communication between Cuba and the U.S. upon request. Sheinbaum disclosed that Trump inquired about Mexico’s stance on Venezuela, to which she reiterated that Mexico opposes military interventions as per its constitution.