"We've Said No": Sheinbaum Responds to Trump; Rules Out US Military Intervention in Mexico

“Sol Prendido” for Borderland Beat 

Sheinbaum affirmed that Mexico will continue to say "no" to US military intervention, although it maintains intelligence cooperation on security matters

During the "Morning Press Conference" this Monday, March 9, 2026, held in the Gustavo A. Madero (GAM) borough, Mayor Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo responded to the new and controversial statements by her US counterpart, Donald Trump, who asserted that Mexico is the "epicenter of drug cartel violence."

The head of the Mexican Federal Executive reiterated that her government has rejected the proposal to allow the entry of the US military to combat drug trafficking in Mexican territory; She also affirmed that her administration maintains a firm stance on national sovereignty.

"It's good that President Trump publicly states that he has proposed the deployment of the U.S. military to Mexico, we have said no, because it's the truth. We have said no, and we proudly continue to say no," the president stated, referring to the possibility of U.S. military forces operating in Mexico.

In the same address, the Mexican president explained that the Federal Government does maintain coordination with the U.S. on security matters, although she emphasized that operations within the country are the exclusive responsibility of Mexican authorities. She detailed that bilateral cooperation is primarily focused on intelligence sharing and other security-related activities, but without permitting direct actions by foreign forces.

Sheinbaum clarified that operations against organized crime in Mexico are carried out by "the Armed Forces, or the Secretariat of Security and Citizen Protection (SSPC); the National Guard, or state police and prosecutors' offices. So, indeed, we have said no." And we have made progress; tomorrow you will see the security results, and we must continue to make progress in these areas.”

She also announced that security results will be presented this Tuesday, March 10, noting that her administration continues working to advance in this area.

Trump claims Mexico is the “epicenter of cartel violence”

Sheinbaum’s statements come after Republican businessman Donald Trump asserted that Mexico is the epicenter of drug-related violence in the region. The US president made these remarks during the inauguration of the Latin American Leaders Summit, dubbed “Shield of the Americas,” held in Miami, an event attended by more than a dozen male Latin American leaders.

During his speech, Trump maintained that “as part of our commitment to counter the presence of cartels in the region, we must recognize that the epicenter of cartel violence is Mexico.”

Despite his criticism, the US president also referred to his counterpart Claudia Sheinbaum as "a very good person" and mentioned that she has "a beautiful voice."

It's worth recalling that, previously, Trump had raised the possibility of bombing drug trafficking organizations in Mexico, a stance that has generated debate about security 

Source: Tribuna