🔗 Share this article Mexico's Leader Sheinbaum Denies Reports of American Troop Deployment in Mexico Mexico's head of state Sheinbaum has categorically rejected reports that the United States is planning to deploy military forces into Mexico to combat powerful drug trafficking organizations, emphasizing that she has repeatedly declined such proposals from President Trump. “It’s not going to happen,” Sheinbaum stated during her daily morning news conference on Tuesday. “We are opposed to any form of interventionism or interventionism.” Context on the Allegations Sheinbaum's comments follow a report quoting current and former American authorities that the Trump administration has initiated preparations for a mission to send American military personnel and intelligence officers into the neighboring nation. This information indicated that although the mission was not imminent and a conclusive choice had been made, the initial phases of preparation had already begun along with talks about the scope of the operation. Additionally, the report stated that American forces would function under the authority of the American spy agencies, and that personnel from the CIA would take part as well. The Nation's Reaction But Sheinbaum was insistent that her nation had “no information” about such a proposed intervention, although she admitted that in conversations with the US president, he had offered to dispatch military support and other assistance to confront criminal groups. “I have repeatedly stated thank you very much, President Trump. But no, our country is a free, sovereign and autonomous country,” Sheinbaum affirmed. Historical Collaboration and Present Tensions Mexico and the US have historically worked together in addressing drug-trafficking groups, with the United States at times dispatching intelligence, armed forces and DEA agents to assist Mexico's initiatives to combat organized crime. But the entry of American military into the territory to engage with the cartels, particularly without the nation's consent, would be an unheard-of move that would likely damage an already tenuous partnership between the two countries. Recent Actions and Agreements The US government has designated confronting criminal organizations a central pillar of its foreign policy: in last winter, the US classified six Mexican cartels as terrorist groups. It has also launched a multiple strikes against alleged drug-trafficking boats, including targeting ships in the eastern Pacific that resulted in the deaths of multiple suspects in late October. While authorities saved a survivor from the attack, Sheinbaum criticized the actions and ordered officials from her administration to address them with the US ambassador to Mexico. On that day, she also noted that the country had finalized a security agreement with the US that was negotiated over several months. “We will proceed within this framework of understanding, which has defined guidelines … which honors our sovereignty and our territorial integrity.” Sheinbaum's Position on Security Strategy The national leader has also appeared less enthusiastic on military-focused anti-narcotics tactics than her predecessors: on Monday, she dismissed any modifications to the country’s safety approach despite the recent brutal killing of a mayor in a Mexican state. “There are demands for militarization and armed conflict, as occurred with the war on drugs,” she said. “It proved ineffective.”