Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum has firmly stated that U.S. military intervention against drug cartels operating in her country is not needed, following a direct conversation with American President Donald Trump. The leaders held a 15-minute phone call on Monday, January 12, 2026, where Sheinbaum reiterated Mexico's commitment to handling security issues independently.
A Conversation on Sovereignty and Security
The call, which Sheinbaum described as "a very good conversation," was initiated after a week of heightened rhetoric from Trump. The U.S. president had publicly repeated accusations that cartels are "running Mexico" and expressed readiness to confront them on the ground. Sheinbaum said she clearly communicated Mexico's constitutional stance against foreign interventions, a point she emphasized was understood by Trump.
"We told him, so far it's going very well, it's not necessary, and furthermore there is Mexico's sovereignty and territorial integrity and he understood," Sheinbaum stated during a briefing in Mexico City.
Trump's Persistent Offers and Mexico's Stance
According to the Mexican president, Trump "still insisted" during their talk that U.S. military forces could assist if requested. This offer was firmly declined. The context of the discussion was influenced by recent U.S. actions in Venezuela, where the Trump administration supported the removal of President Nicolas Maduro. Sheinbaum was directly asked for her opinion on that event.
"He asked me my opinion about what they had done in Venezuela and I told him very clearly that our constitution is very clear, that we do not agree with interventions and that was it," she explained.
Ongoing Cooperation and Tangible Results
Despite rejecting military aid, both leaders agreed to continue bilateral cooperation on security. This diplomatic follow-up included a Sunday conversation between Mexico's Foreign Affairs Secretary, Juan Ramon de la Fuente, and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio. The U.S. State Department noted that Rubio asked for "tangible results" and increased collaboration to dismantle cartel networks.
Sheinbaum pointed to specific metrics to demonstrate progress, including:
- A significant decrease in homicide rates.
- Falling seizures of fentanyl at the U.S. border.
- A decline in fentanyl overdose deaths in the United States.
Analysts suggest that while Trump's aggressive rhetoric aims to maintain pressure on Mexico, actual U.S. military intervention remains unlikely. Mexico is considered a critical economic partner and is largely cooperating with American security requests. The call concluded with an agreement for continued joint work, leaving the door open for diplomatic engagement while firmly closing it on foreign military action on Mexican soil.
