Sheinbaum dismisses DEA allegations of cartel links as baseless political statement
Tensions rise between Washington and Mexico City as Trump administration escalates rhetoric and designates new criminal groups as terrorists.
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum has firmly rejected assertions by the United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) that her government is connected to criminal cartels, describing the claims as a baseless political statement devoid of evidence. Speaking at her daily news conference on Wednesday, Sheinbaum criticised DEA Administrator Terry Cole for characterising the Mexican government and cartel networks as "one and the same," a remark she argued reflected political posturing rather than factual reality.
Sheinbaum urged the DEA to redirect its efforts toward combating drug trafficking, distribution, and money laundering within the United States, noting that the US remains the world’s largest market for illicit drugs. Her response follows a series of accusations from US President Donald Trump and his officials, who have repeatedly claimed that Mexico is controlled by cartels. The Mexican government stated that Cole’s comments did not accurately reflect its ongoing efforts to collaborate with the US on crime prevention.
The diplomatic friction marks a significant shift from the initial warmth between the two leaders, during which Trump praised Sheinbaum as "marvellous." Since taking office for a second term, Trump has intensified pressure on Mexico to crack down on crime, adopting a more militaristic approach to Latin America. Sheinbaum has pushed back against this strategy, reaffirming Mexico’s willingness to cooperate on security matters while insisting on strict respect for national sovereignty and rejecting unilateral US military operations on Mexican soil without federal consent.
Tensions have further escalated following the US Department of the Treasury’s recent designation of the Juarez Cartel and Los Viagras as "foreign terrorist organisations" and "specially designated global terrorists." This move aligns with the Trump administration’s broader strategy of framing its actions in the region as a war on so-called "narco-terrorists." The designations come amid broader geopolitical strain, including criminal complaints filed by Mexico with US prosecutors regarding the deaths of Mexican nationals in Trump’s mass deportation campaign.
Sheinbaum’s administration has a history of challenging US legal and political interventions in Mexican affairs. In April, she rebuked the US for issuing an indictment against Sinaloa Governor Ruben Rocha, alleging his campaign collaborated with the Sinaloa Cartel to influence the 2021 gubernatorial election. Sheinbaum noted that no evidence had been produced to support the claim, arguing that rooting out corruption remains a domestic issue rather than an international one.
