Mexico’s President Claudia Sheinbaum has unequivocally rejected former U.S. President Donald Trump’s proposal to deploy American troops on Mexican soil to combat drug cartels, asserting that national sovereignty is non-negotiable, reported by Express Tribune.
Speaking at a public event on Saturday, Sheinbaum revealed that Trump floated the suggestion during an April 16 phone call, proposing that U.S. forces take the lead in dismantling cartels linked to fentanyl trafficking. “I told him, ‘No, President Trump. Our territory is inviolable, our sovereignty is not for sale,’” she stated firmly.
While Sheinbaum acknowledged the severity of cartel violence, she underscored that any bilateral strategy must respect Mexico’s autonomy. “With Mexico, it is collaboration and coordination—never subordination or interventionism, and even less, invasion,” she declared.
Sheinbaum remains open to strengthened cooperation, particularly in intelligence sharing and curbing arms trafficking from the U.S., which she described as a key factor fueling violence in Mexico. She called on Washington to assume greater responsibility in halting the illegal flow of firearms across the border.
A spokesperson from the U.S. National Security Council reiterated Trump’s commitment to aiding Mexico in its fight against organized crime, but the proposal has reignited long-standing tensions surrounding sovereignty, security, and mutual trust.
This diplomatic rift comes amid broader challenges in U.S.-Mexico relations, including drug policy, migration, and border enforcement. Though both nations have historically cooperated on security matters, Sheinbaum’s administration remains resolute in opposing any foreign military footprint on Mexican territory.
As cross-border crime intensifies, the path forward will likely hinge on carefully balanced diplomacy rather than unilateral action.
