Mexican President Sheinbaum Again Rejects U.S. Intervention In Its Territory: ‘Not Necessary’

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum again rejected a U.S. intervention in its territory, saying that such a move is “not necessary.”

Speaking at the Presidential Palace, Sheinbaum said such an action would not manage to fully eradicate criminal organizations in the country, claiming that fighting them “is much more complex.”

“We don’t agree with it. Firstly because it’s not necessary. Secondly because it would violate our sovereignty. And thirdly because organized crime is much more complex,” Sheinbaum claimed.

On Monday, Sheinbaum said her administration is willing to enter new security agreements with the U.S. but they must be done “without subordination.”

Speaking at her first State of the Union address on Monday, Sheinbaum addressed reports about U.S. counterpart Donald Trump directing the Pentagon to explore the possibility of carrying out military strikes against cartels in Mexican territory.

Sheinbaum had already anticipated that the Trump administration “offered more intervention in our country” but she rejected any possibility of it happening.

Sheinbaum claimed that she refused the offer because her administration will “never sign something that from our perspective violates our sovereignty or our territory.” “Never. They might have the intent to do it, but we said no, not under that scheme,” she added.

The conversations will take place as the Mexican president is reportedly “exasperated” with Trump over what she and her cabinet see as unrelenting demands from him and his administration.

The New York times detailed that the “honeymoon” phase between the two heads of state seems to be ending as a result, with Sheinbaum not seeing fruits from her willingness to accommodate to Trump.

The outlet recalled several instances in which Trump or his officials publicly demanded Mexico do more to address certain issues, including strengthening border security, delivering alleged cartel leaders to the U.S. to face justice there and do more to address money laundering through Mexican banks.

“At each step, Ms. Sheinbaum has grit her teeth and stressed that there was a red line Mr. Trump must not cross: infringing on Mexico’s sovereignty, particularly with unilateral military action,” the piece highlighted.

However, the Trump administration has refused to rule out such a possibility, with news breaking in August that Trump had secretly directed the Pentagon to draw up potential military action against cartels.

Quoting a senior administration official, Rolling Stone magazine reported in mid-August that the development is “not a negotiating tactic,” and that Trump “has been clear that a strike… is coming unless we see some big, major changes.”