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Mexico's President Sheinbaum has categorically denied allegations that the US government is planning to send military forces into the country to confront powerful cartels, stating that she has repeatedly refused such proposals from Donald Trump.

“This will not occur,” Sheinbaum declared during her regular press briefing on that day. “We are opposed to any process of interference or interventionism.”

Background on the Reports

Sheinbaum's comments follow a report quoting current and former US officials that the Trump administration has started planning for a mission to send US troops and intelligence officers into the neighboring nation.

This information suggested that although the mission was not imminent and no final decision had been made, the initial phases of training had commenced along with discussions about the extent of the deployment.

Furthermore, the report mentioned that US troops would function under the authority of the American spy agencies, and that personnel from the CIA would take part as well.

Mexico's Response

But the Mexican leader was adamant that her nation had “lack of details” about such a proposed intervention, even though she acknowledged that in phone calls with the US president, he had proposed to send military support and additional resources to confront organized crime.

“I’ve always said thank you very much, President Trump. But no, Mexico is a free, sovereign and autonomous country,” Sheinbaum declared.

Historical Cooperation and Current Strains

Mexico and the US have historically worked together in tackling drug-trafficking groups, with the United States at times dispatching CIA, military and DEA operatives to support Mexico's initiatives to combat criminal networks.

But the incursion of American military into the territory to directly confront the drug lords, particularly without the nation's agreement, would be an unprecedented move that would almost certainly fracture an fragile partnership between the two countries.

Latest Actions and Understandings

The US government has made addressing drug-trafficking groups a central pillar of its international strategy: in February, the US designated multiple drug cartels as terrorist groups.

It has also launched a multiple strikes against suspected drug-trafficking boats, including striking ships in the eastern Pacific that resulted in the deaths of 14 alleged traffickers in late October.

While Mexico rescued one of the survivors from the strike, the President criticized the actions and instructed representatives from her administration to address them with the US ambassador to Mexico.

On Tuesday, Sheinbaum also highlighted that Mexico had finalized a security agreement with the US that was negotiated over an extended period.

“We are going to continue working within this cooperative structure, which has defined guidelines … which respects our independence and our territorial integrity.”

Sheinbaum's Position on Security Strategy

The Mexican president has also appeared cooler on militarised anti-narcotics tactics than her predecessors: on Monday, she ruled out any changes to the nation's security strategy despite the murder of a mayor in a Mexican state.

“There are demands for military action and armed conflict, as occurred with the war on drugs,” she said. “That didn’t work.”