Mexican President Dismisses Risk Of US 'Invasion' After Trump Orders Action On Cartels

Last Updated:August 08, 2025, 23:26 IST

Reports claimed that Trump had secretly authorised the use of military force against drug cartels designated as terrorist organisations by his administration

News18

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum on Friday rejected suggestions that the United States would carry out a military invasion of Mexico, following reports that President Donald Trump had signed an order targeting Latin American drug cartels.

“There will be no invasion of Mexico," Sheinbaum said during her daily press briefing, in response to a report by The New York Times.

The report claimed that Trump had secretly authorised the use of military force against drug cartels designated as terrorist organisations by his administration.

Sheinbaum clarified that her government had been informed about the executive order in advance, and stressed that it would not involve US troops or any foreign military presence within Mexican territory.

“We were informed that this executive order was coming and that it had nothing to do with the participation of any military personnel or any institution in our territory," she said.

According to the publication, Trump’s directive allows for US military action at sea or on foreign soil against the listed cartels. In February, the Trump administration formally designated eight drug trafficking organisations as terrorist groups — six of which are Mexican, one Venezuelan, and another from El Salvador.

Two weeks ago, US authorities added Venezuela’s “Cartel of the Suns" to the list. On Thursday, the US Justice Department doubled its reward for information leading to the arrest of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro to $50 million, accusing him of leading the cartel. Venezuela dismissed the claim as a political move.

President Sheinbaum, who has been working to improve security ties with Washington, stressed her administration’s cooperation in the fight against drug trafficking. However, she made clear that any foreign military involvement remains unacceptable.

“We are cooperating, we are collaborating, but there will be no invasion. That is absolutely ruled out," she said. “In every call with US officials, we have made it clear that this is not permitted."

Sheinbaum, sometimes nicknamed the “Trump whisperer" in Mexican media, has in the past managed to ease tensions and avoid trade threats by showing willingness to act on cross-border issues such as migration and drugs.

(With inputs from AFP)

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