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Mexico's President Claudia Sheinbaum has firmly denied allegations that the United States is considering to deploy military forces into the country to combat dominant drug trafficking organizations, emphasizing that she has repeatedly refused such offers from Donald Trump.

“It’s not going to happen,” Sheinbaum stated during her daily morning press briefing on that day. “We are opposed to any form of interventionism or external interference.”

Context on the Reports

The President's comments follow a report quoting current and former American authorities that the Trump administration has started planning for a operation to deploy US troops and intelligence officers into the neighboring nation.

This information suggested that although the mission was not imminent and no final decision had been made, the early stages of training had already begun along with discussions about the scope of the deployment.

Furthermore, the report mentioned that US troops would function under the authority of the American spy agencies, and that personnel from the CIA would take part as well.

The Nation's Response

But the Mexican leader was adamant that her country had “no information” about such a proposed intervention, even though she admitted that in phone calls with Trump, he had proposed to send military support and additional resources to tackle criminal groups.

“I’ve always said thank you very much, President Trump. But absolutely not, Mexico is a free, sovereign and autonomous nation,” Sheinbaum declared.

Historical Collaboration and Current Tensions

Mexico and the US have historically worked together in tackling drug-trafficking groups, with the US at times sending CIA, armed forces and DEA agents to assist the country's initiatives to fight criminal networks.

But the incursion of American military into the territory to directly confront the cartels, particularly without the nation's agreement, would be an unheard-of step that would likely damage an already tenuous bilateral relationship.

Latest Measures and Understandings

The Trump administration has made addressing drug-trafficking groups a key element of its foreign policy: in February, Washington designated six Mexican cartels as terrorist groups.

Additionally, it has launched a series of attacks against suspected drug-trafficking boats, most recently striking vessels in the eastern Pacific that resulted in the deaths of 14 alleged traffickers in recent weeks.

While Mexico rescued a survivor from the strike, Sheinbaum condemned the actions and instructed officials from her government to address them with the US ambassador to Mexico.

On Tuesday, Sheinbaum also highlighted that the country had reached a security agreement with the United States that was discussed over an extended period.

“We are going to continue working within this cooperative structure, which has very clear principles … which honors our independence and our territorial integrity.”

Sheinbaum's Position on Anti-Narcotics Strategy

The national leader has also appeared cooler on military-focused drug combat strategies than her preceding leaders: on Monday, she dismissed any modifications to the country’s security strategy despite the recent brutal killing of a local official in a Mexican state.

“There are demands for militarization and armed conflict, as occurred with the war on drugs,” Sheinbaum commented. “That didn’t work.”