Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum has officially rejected an offer from President Donald Trump to allow U.S. military forces to directly assist in dismantling the drug cartels that are flooding America with fentanyl and fueling violence along the southern border.
During a recent phone call between the two leaders, Trump proposed a joint operation that would include U.S. military assets operating in cartel-infested regions of Mexico. The move was intended to deliver a decisive blow to transnational criminal organizations that are not only destabilizing Mexico but also directly responsible for the fentanyl crisis killing tens of thousands of Americans every year.
President Sheinbaum refused the proposal, declaring that Mexico’s sovereignty is “not for sale” and would not be compromised by allowing a foreign military presence—even for the purpose of fighting cartels. In a public statement, she emphasized, “Sovereignty is loved and defended.” Her administration did, however, express a willingness to expand intelligence-sharing and cooperative efforts short of a U.S. deployment.
Trump allies have made it clear that diplomacy and patience have worn thin. With the fentanyl epidemic reaching catastrophic levels, and cartel violence spilling over into American cities, many are calling for stronger unilateral action if Mexico continues to resist boots-on-the-ground cooperation.
National security officials in the Trump administration reiterated that the offer was not about disrespecting Mexico, but about saving lives and bringing criminal organizations to their knees. The National Security Council acknowledged the urgency of Trump’s commitment and reaffirmed that ongoing cooperation with Mexico remains vital—but warned that the U.S. must reserve the right to protect its people if foreign partners refuse to act.
Sheinbaum, meanwhile, shifted the focus back toward the U.S., calling on American authorities to do more to stem the flow of firearms into Mexico, claiming that weapons trafficking from north to south fuels cartel violence. Her comments echo long-standing talking points often used by left-leaning governments to deflect from their own failures to dismantle criminal networks.
Trump, who has previously called the cartels “terrorist organizations” and floated the use of drone strikes and special forces against key targets, has made it clear that confronting the cartels is a top priority for his administration. “Enough is enough,” one senior official said. “We’re not asking Mexico to surrender its sovereignty—we’re asking them to pick a side: the rule of law or the cartels.”
With Sheinbaum’s refusal now public, the pressure is mounting. Americans are demanding action. And Trump appears more determined than ever to take it—with or without permission.