🔗 Share this article Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum Rejects Claims of US Troop Deployment in Mexico The nation's head of state Sheinbaum has firmly denied allegations that the United States is considering to send troops into Mexico to combat powerful cartels, emphasizing that she has repeatedly declined such offers from President Trump. “It’s not going to happen,” the President declared during her regular press briefing on Tuesday. “We are opposed to any process of interference or external interference.” Background on the Reports Sheinbaum's remarks come after a report quoting present and past US officials that the Trump administration has initiated preparations for a operation to deploy American military personnel and agents into the neighboring nation. The report indicated that although the mission was not imminent and no final decision had been made, the early stages of preparation had already begun along with discussions about the extent of the deployment. Additionally, the account mentioned that American forces would function under the jurisdiction of the American spy agencies, and that officers from the CIA would take part as well. Mexico's Reaction But Sheinbaum was insistent that her country had “no information” about such a proposed intervention, even though she admitted that in conversations with Trump, he had offered to send military support and additional resources to confront criminal groups. “I have repeatedly stated thank you very much, Mr. Trump. But no, Mexico is a independent, sovereign and sovereign country,” Sheinbaum declared. Historical Cooperation and Current Strains Mexico and the US have long collaborated in tackling drug-trafficking groups, with the United States at times sending CIA, armed forces and DEA agents to support the country's initiatives to combat criminal networks. But the entry of US troops into the territory to directly confront the cartels, especially without the nation's consent, would be an unprecedented step that would almost certainly damage an fragile bilateral relationship. Latest Measures and Understandings The Trump administration has made addressing drug-trafficking groups a key element of its international strategy: in last winter, Washington classified multiple drug cartels as terrorist groups. Additionally, it has launched a multiple strikes against alleged narco vessels, most recently targeting vessels in the eastern Pacific that killed 14 alleged traffickers in recent weeks. Although Mexico rescued a survivor from the attack, the President criticized the strikes and ordered representatives from her administration to discuss them with the US ambassador to Mexico. On Tuesday, she also highlighted that Mexico had finalized a security agreement with the US that was discussed over an extended period. “We are going to continue working within this cooperative structure, which has very clear principles … which honors our independence and our territoriality.” The President's Position on Security Approach The Mexican president has also appeared less enthusiastic on militarised anti-narcotics tactics than her preceding leaders: on Monday, she dismissed any changes to the nation's safety approach despite the murder of a local official in western Mexico. “There are demands for militarization and armed conflict, as occurred with the anti-drug campaign,” Sheinbaum said. “It proved ineffective.”