Mexico has stated that US military forces will not be entering its land in light of reports that President Donald Trump instructed the Pentagon to target drug cartels in Latin America.
"Military intervention from the United States in Mexico is not going to happen," President Claudia Sheinbaum declared on Friday. "We collaborate and cooperate, but there will be no invasion. That is completely excluded, without a doubt."
The New York Times reported on Friday that Trump had secretly approved a directive to initiate the use of military force in foreign countries.
In a statement to the BBC, the White House did not comment on the directive but indicated that Trump's "top priority is safeguarding the homeland."
The directive that was reported seems to follow an executive order signed by Trump earlier this year that officially labeled eight drug cartels as terrorist organizations, six of which are located in Mexico.
In a conversation with journalists, Sheinbaum mentioned that the Mexican authorities were advised about an impending order concerning the cartels, emphasizing that "it was not related to the involvement of any military personnel."
"It is not included in any agreement, quite the opposite. Whenever it has been discussed, we have consistently responded with a 'No, '" she stated.
Earlier this year, Sheinbaum expressed that Trump's choice to label cartels as terrorists "cannot serve as a pretext for the US to infringe upon our sovereignty."
On Thursday, Secretary of State Marco Rubio remarked that the classification would assist the US in targeting cartels, utilizing resources from intelligence agencies and the Department of Defense.
"We must begin to consider them as armed terrorist organizations, rather than mere drug trafficking groups," Rubio added.
According to a report from The New York Times, the directive signed by Trump establishes "an official foundation for potential direct military actions" against cartels, whether on the water or in foreign territories.
In recent months, Mexico has collaborated with the US to address the illegal movement of both migrants and drugs across the US-Mexico border.
Data from US Customs and Border Protection indicates that June recorded the lowest number of border crossings in history, and last week, US Ambassador to Mexico Ronald Johnson stated that fentanyl seizures at the border had decreased by more than half.
In a post on X, Johnson praised the partnership between Sheinbaum and Trump, noting that their leadership had led to the bankruptcy of cartels and enhanced safety for both countries.
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