Mexico’s President Sheinbaum Responds to Trump‘s Cartel Terrorism Threat
Mexico’s President Claudia Sheinbaum has responded to U.S. President-elect Donald Trump’s threat to designate Mexican drug cartels as "terrorist organizations," stressing that while Mexico will collaborate in security matters, it will not tolerate interference in its sovereignty.
Sheinbaum, in a press conference at the National Palace, stated, "We collaborate, coordinate, work together, but we will never subordinate. Mexico is a free, sovereign, and independent country, and we do not accept interference in our internal affairs. It’s about collaboration and coordination, not subordination. We’re going to work on building peace."
The President underscored that the consumption of drugs mainly occurs in the United States, and it’s also the source of weapons fueling violence in Mexico. "I said so in my letter to President Donald Trump: drugs are consumed there, and weapons come from there, while we lose lives here. That’s not acceptable," Sheinbaum said.
This statement comes after Trump’s weekend declaration, during an event with the ultraconservative organization Turning Point, that he would "immediately" designate drug cartels as foreign terrorist groups and deploy all federal security forces to expel criminal migrant gangs.
Trump’s strategy is laced with racist and xenophobic undertones that echoed his previous presidential campaigns. He has promised to close the Mexican border on his first day in office and deport millions of migrants, regardless of their legal status, sending a shockwave through the North American economy.
Sheinbaum, firm in her stance, has warned that if mass deportations push migrants towards Mexico, she will request that the U.S. send non-Mexican migrants directly to their countries of origin.
Trump’s return to the White House poses significant challenges to Sheinbaum’s government plans, such as attracting investments through nearshoring, combating organized crime with social reintegration programs, and promoting human rights in migration.
Trump’s hardline policy, with its emphasis on immediate results, could clash with Sheinbaum’s proposals. As the bilateral relationship unfolds over the next six years, Sheinbaum’s negotiating skills will be put to the test.
The Mexican President, however, has shown determination in her previous interactions with Trump, a sentiment she reiterated in her response to the U.S. President-elect’s latest threat.
