Mexico’s President, Claudia Sheinbaum, firmly warned the United States on Thursday that her nation would never accept an “invasion” of its sovereignty, responding to Washington’s decision to classify drug cartels as terrorist organizations.
She also pledged further legal action against American gun manufacturers, holding them accountable for weapons that end up in the hands of criminal groups.
Her comments were directed at the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump, which has been pressuring Mexico to intensify efforts against drug trafficking and illegal migration.
Trump’s government has threatened to impose sweeping 25-percent tariffs unless Mexico steps up its fight against cartels, including powerful groups like the Sinaloa Cartel and the Jalisco New Generation Cartel, both now labeled as terrorist entities.
Despite this designation, Sheinbaum insisted that Mexico’s cooperation with the U.S. must be based on mutual respect.
“They can call them (the cartels) whatever they want, but with Mexico, it is collaboration and coordination, never subordination or interventionism, and even less invasion,” she stated during a press briefing.
U.S. Attempts to Ease Tensions
Addressing concerns over possible U.S. intervention, Secretary of State Marco Rubio emphasized in an interview on social media platform X that Washington’s goal is to work alongside Mexico.
“In the case of Mexico, the preference always is to work in conjunction with our partners in Mexico, and we can provide them a lot of information about who they are and where they’re located,” he said, referring to the newly designated criminal organizations.
Sheinbaum also revealed plans to intensify legal action against U.S. gunmakers, accusing them of enabling the illicit flow of firearms into Mexico.
She suggested that the lawsuit could now include charges of alleged “complicity” with terrorist organizations.
Military Speculation and Drone Surveillance
Trump’s executive order branding the cartels as a national security threat has sparked speculation about potential military action.
While Secretary of State Rubio noted that the designation gives law enforcement “additional tools” to combat these groups, he did not comment on military possibilities.
However, billionaire Elon Musk, who plays an advisory role in Trump’s administration, hinted at a more aggressive approach, saying the designation “means they’re eligible for drone strikes.”
Sheinbaum acknowledged that U.S. drones have long been conducting surveillance on Mexican cartels, a collaboration that predates Trump’s return to office.
Reports from The New York Times suggested Washington has recently intensified these operations, using drones to locate fentanyl production facilities.
Mexico has historically resisted any form of military intervention by the U.S., particularly given past conflicts that saw the country lose half its territory.
In response to these growing concerns, Sheinbaum announced plans to introduce a constitutional reform aimed at safeguarding Mexico’s territorial integrity against any unauthorized land, air, or sea violations.
Canada Joins in Sanctions
Meanwhile, Canada has aligned with the U.S. by designating several drug cartels as terrorist groups.
The sanctioned organizations include the Sinaloa Cartel, the Jalisco New Generation Cartel, the Gulf Cartel, the Michoacan Family, the United Cartels, MS-13, and TdA. Like Mexico, Canada also faces the threat of Trump’s 25-percent tariffs if it does not address drug and migration issues more aggressively.
Mexico Adapts Its Strategy
Mexico estimates that between 200,000 and 750,000 firearms are trafficked from the U.S. annually, fueling cartel violence.
Despite Mexico’s strict gun control laws, criminal organizations continue to amass weapons, contributing to a death toll of around 480,000 since the military was first deployed against drug traffickers in 2006.
While Sheinbaum has refrained from declaring an all-out “war” on cartels, she has moved away from her predecessor’s “hugs not bullets” approach, which emphasized tackling root causes over direct confrontation.
Recent government actions include large-scale drug seizures and an increased military presence along the U.S. border—a strategy that appears to have secured a temporary pause in Trump’s tariff threats.
Further demonstrating her administration’s tougher stance, Mexican authorities this week arrested two high-ranking Sinaloa Cartel members, including a key security figure for one of the cartel’s factions.
