The president of Mexico, Claudia Sheinbaum, assured that she will never negotiate national sovereignty after being questioned about reports that the CIA has intensified secret drone flights over the country in search of fentanyl laboratories. She stated that this action is not illegal or new, and it is part of the cooperation and coordination with the U.S. government.
Sheinbaum highlighted that these types of agreements date back to when President Andrés Manuel López Obrador was in power.
"We are precisely working on additional coordination actions within the framework of our Constitution and laws. We can continue developing mutual assistance, but it’s not about entering into a particular negotiation now; it is part of the coordination," emphasized the Mexican president.
The president clarified there are no new negotiations despite media interpretations suggesting that she reached new agreements with Donald Trump during their calls.
"There is no illicit operation… Many of these flights are at the request of the Mexican government to request technologies that Mexico may not have, and they were carried out with the knowledge and authorization of the government," she specified.
Sheinbaum explained that this collaboration is to address security conditions established primarily between Mexico’s armed forces and various U.S. government institutions.
However, she pointed out many national and international media outlets have spread reports implying that the President of Mexico is weak and had to concede to U.S. government espionage and that Mexico’s sovereignty is being violated.
"They will not weaken us, first because we have principles, and for us, sovereignty is a principle, not something negotiable; second, because we always tell the truth, we never hide anything. We have three principles: not to lie, not to steal, and not to betray the people," she said.
"We do not lie, sovereignty is non-negotiable; that is a basic principle. Mexico’s sovereignty and independence cost the lives of many people, and we have the responsibility, and we will fulfill it, because it is our conviction, and that’s why the people of Mexico elect us: to defend our sovereignty. There is absolutely nothing to hide," she added.
Regarding President Donald Trump’s statement on Tuesday that “Mexico is largely governed by drug cartels,” Sheinbaum referred to the fact that the Mexican government does not agree with this claim, and since January 20, a video has been released to dismiss his false claims.
“We disagree, I said it when the White House issued its statement on January 20, I think it was, and I made a video where we recorded that we do not accept that assertion; at the same time, he also says he gets along with Mexico, so we have the obligation to always seek an agreement with the United States within the framework of our principles and, of course, the Constitution of the Republic,” she pointed out.
She stated the help proposed by Trump should be without violating Mexico's sovereignty and within the framework of coordination and collaboration, and in compliance with Mexican laws and the four principles.
When asked if she fears Trump, the President of Mexico said no.
"No, I have people that support me. When one has certainty and conviction and knows what their principles are, why would one be afraid? Besides, President Trump has his way of expressing himself; so, first, there is dialogue at this moment, and we will never allow sovereignty to be violated. And if it were to be violated, there is an entire people to defend their country," she stated.
President Claudia Sheinbaum said that many try to portray the government as if it defends drug cartels or organized crime, despite the clear results in the reduction of crime rates through a strategy focused on addressing root causes and reducing impunity with four key areas developed at the national level. January 2025 has become the month with the lowest number of homicides in the last eight years. "We work every day for peacebuilding in our country; it is not the vision of the past."
“What we want is the enforcement of the law and the fulfillment of the causes, that the young people of Mexico have the right to live happily and in peace, to have access to the rights established in the Constitution of the Republic: education, health, employment, and a full life. So, first, let there be no confusion: what we defend is sovereignty."
In the event that President Donald Trump issues an order that drug cartels as terrorist groups and takes actions outside of the U.S., Mexico will not allow it.
"If that order involves extraterritorial actions, we do not accept them. We believe that, while it is true that we must advance in joint investigations, for example, on money laundering (and resources from drug sales in the U.S.), that is fine. What we do not accept is the violation of our sovereignty. Therefore, it is collaboration and coordination without subordination and without interventionism."
She added that there are many ways to collaborate, such as sharing information and securing borders to prevent the trafficking of weapons from the U.S. to Mexico and the trafficking of drugs from Mexico to the U.S., as well as increasing controls on money laundering.
Raymundo Pedro Morales Ángeles, who is the Admiral and Secretary of the Navy of Mexico, said there are four non- negotiable principles for security in the country.
“The first is a shared responsibility, meaning we recognize that the problem is on both sides of the border and that we must act in a coordinated and collaborative manner; the second is mutual trust, meaning that what we agree upon is fulfilled, and we do not betray each other; the third is cooperation, not subordination, meaning we can work together, we can conduct operations with their help and ours in different areas, but Mexican forces will never be subordinated to U.S. forces; and lastly, respect for sovereignty, which is non-negotiable. These are the four principles governing cooperation on security matters with the United States.”
The Mexican president emphasized that in 2020, President López Obrador modified what is permitted in Mexico by U.S. agency personnel, and evaluations are underway regarding additional measures to protect Mexico’s sovereignty, "because what cannot be allowed is for them to carry out activities that are not part of collaboration or coordination."
Sheinbaum recalled that, just as there was a relationship between President López Obrador and President Trump, there will be one with her as well, since they are neighboring countries.
"I tend to think there will be a good relationship between President Trump and the President of Mexico; we are two neighboring countries, we are not going anywhere, we are trade partners, and we must make every effort possible to have a good relationship."
She added that although both countries are in the process of negotiating regarding the unilateral decision to possibly impose tariffs on Mexico despite the trade agreement, “We must seek, within the limits of our sovereignty and our principles, the best possible relationship with the United States because we are trade partners, because there is great economic integration, and because 39 million Mexicans live in the U.S., whether they are first, second, or third generation.”
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