Sheinbaum responds to Trump’s criticism and reaffirms Mexican sovereignty in the face of accusations about cartels

This Monday, March 9, during her morning conference at the National Palace, President Claudia Sheinbaum responded to the statements of the President of the United States, Donald Trump, who in recent days described Mexico as the “epicenter” of cartel violence and suggested more direct measures against criminal organizations from Mexican territory, which has generated a strong controversy in the bilateral relationship.

Trump made these remarks within the framework of the summit called “Shield of the Americas,” an event held in Miami where the US president presented a regional coalition to combat drug trafficking, bringing together representatives from several countries on the continent.

FIRM RESPONSE: COOPERATION WITHOUT INTERVENTION

In response to questions from the press, Sheinbaum stressed that Mexico maintains cooperation with the United States in matters of intelligence and security, but clarified that operations within the national territory correspond exclusively to Mexican institutions, such as the Armed Forces, the National Guard, the state police and the prosecutor’s offices.

The president also highlighted that Mexico has rejected proposals for US military intervention, emphatically pointing out that the country has consistently and proudly said “no” to allowing foreign troops to operate on Mexican soil.

ARMS TRAFFICKING AND DRUG DEMAND: OTHER FACTORS

Sheinbaum took the opportunity to point out two factors that, according to her, require greater attention from the United States:

Illegal arms trafficking from US territory to Mexico, of which, he stated, approximately 75% of the weapons used by criminal groups come from the United States, based on data from the US Department of Justice itself.

Domestic drug consumption in the United States, which was considered a determining factor in the demand for substances such as fentanyl, whose circulation has been a central issue in the bilateral security agenda.

These issues, Sheinbaum said, must be addressed together to significantly impact violence associated with drug trafficking.

NATIONAL SOVEREIGNTY AS A RED LINE

The president reaffirmed the importance of respecting national sovereignty and the exclusive role of Mexican institutions in conducting security operations within the country. He pointed out that, although Mexico and the United States share security objectives, any action must be carried out under mutual respect and without unilateral interventions.

Sheinbaum’s response seeks to balance international criticism with the defense of the autonomy of the Mexican State, while maintaining bilateral cooperation in key areas to combat transnational crimes.