US President Donald Trump said several times in January that Mexico was allegedly being run by drug cartels and again suggested the use of force against them. After the US operation against Venezuela, those remarks were taken far more seriously in Mexico, and the government of Claudia Sheinbaum intensified cooperation with Washington while repeatedly stressing full respect for sovereignty.
Against that backdrop, Mexico handed over 37 members of criminal groups to the United States on January 20, and on January 23 it extradited Alejandro Rosales and Ryan Wedding, both on the FBI’s list of ten most wanted fugitives. US Attorney General Pam Bondi called this another achievement by the Trump administration in its campaign against the cartels.
Sheinbaum has been caught between defending the principle of non-intervention and avoiding a sharp confrontation with the White House. After the strike on Venezuela, she cited the UN Charter, and on January 12 she held a phone call with Trump. The US president, however, did not publicly rule out tougher action.
Mexican officials and some members of the US Congress argue that a unilateral military operation would violate Mexico’s sovereignty and damage the cooperation now under way. In a January 9 letter, a group of 75 lawmakers said Mexico had already strengthened intelligence work, seized fentanyl, and expanded efforts against organized crime.
Sheinbaum’s strategy combines social prevention with a tougher security and intelligence approach. After taking office in October 2024, her administration strengthened the National Guard, improved interagency coordination, and expanded targeted operations. Official figures say intentional homicides fell by 37% between September 2024 and November 2025, though experts question the reliability of the statistics.
Experts interviewed by the outlet say “surgical strikes” alone would not address the roots of drug trafficking. More realistic steps, they argue, would include joint training, action against fentanyl precursors, anti-money-laundering measures, and pressure on officials linked to criminal networks. Mexican officials also stress the reverse flow: every year, 200,000 to 500,000 firearms are smuggled illegally from the United States into Mexico.