Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum has asserted that her government is actively combating organized crime, responding to statements from U.S. President Donald Trump who suggested he would take action if Mexico did not.
Speaking during a morning press conference at the National Palace, Sheinbaum noted that while Trump has expressed this sentiment on several occasions, Mexico has achieved tangible results. These include a nearly 50 percent decrease in intentional homicides and the destruction of 2,500 laboratories, alongside the detention of individuals with open investigation files.
Challenges in Bilateral Cooperation
The president highlighted a discrepancy in cooperation between the two nations. Sheinbaum stated that Mexico has transferred more than 90 individuals sought by the United States who were held in Mexican prisons. However, she argued that the U.S. Has not reciprocated this cooperation.
Specifically, Sheinbaum mentioned that Mexico has requested the delivery of approximately four people linked to fuel theft (huachicol) and two individuals connected to the Ayotzinapa case, but these requests have not been fulfilled.
Shift in U.S. Drug Strategy
Regarding the narcotics crisis, Sheinbaum highlighted a decrease in the flow of fentanyl into the United States. She drew attention to the U.S. National Drug Control Strategy, noting that for the first time, it includes the goal to “Create a drug-free America through social norms.”
Sheinbaum emphasized that this is an explicit recognition by the U.S. Of its own serious drug consumption problem. She pointed to a specific chapter of the strategy titled “Rescue and response to overdose,” which states that 16 percent of the U.S. Population faces serious consumption problems. The document mentions the need to reduce the trafficking of arms from the United States into Mexico.
The president recalled early telephone conversations with Trump, during which he questioned why drug consumption was not as high in Mexico. Sheinbaum attributed this to deep-rooted family values and the implementation of a national prevention campaign.
Diplomatic Outlook and Sovereignty
Sheinbaum maintained that joint dialogue has produced results when conducted within a framework of mutual respect. She expressed a desire to preserve mutual trust, stating that such trust must be based on:
- Respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity.
- Shared and differentiated responsibility.
- Mutual respect and confidence.
- “Cooperation without subordination.”
Moving forward, the stability of this relationship may depend on whether the U.S. Addresses the requested extraditions and the flow of arms, as well as whether both nations continue to operate under the principles of sovereignty and mutual respect outlined by the Mexican president.
