Donald Trump and Claudia Sheinbaum star in a new episode of diplomatic tension, marked by cross speeches regarding cartels and Mexican sovereignty. While the U.S. president accuses the Mexican leader of fearing criminal groups and rejecting military aid, Sheinbaum responds by appealing to restraint.
Analysts consulted by El Debate warned that the exchange of statements reveals a clash of narratives with political-electoral overtones from each country. Furthermore, they pointed out that despite the president’s denial, the United States could act unilaterally if it deems that its national security remains at risk.
Warning.
Although President Claudia Sheinbaum publicly rejected Donald Trump’s proposal to allow U.S. military intervention in Mexican territory, the possibility of unilateral action by Washington is not entirely ruled out, warned internationalist Alejandro Martínez, an academic from UNAM and La Salle.In an interview with El Debate, he pointed out that Mexico’s rejection does not prevent the United States from acting on its own.But here lies the uncertainty. Practically, the problem remains unresolved in the United States. The cartels have already been classified as terrorists, measures to cancel visas and freeze accounts are already in place, but the problem, under U.S. logic, continues to have repercussions for its citizens, he stated.In this scenario, Martínez warned that if the Mexican president maintains her refusal, other types of military actions may be taken, in which she may not be consulted.
Avoid confrontation.
Claudia Sheinbaum avoided responding to her American counterpart, Donald Trump. «I would not like the communication between President Trump and myself, between the United States and Mexico, to occur through the media and statements to the media,» said the leader during her morning press conference.
Sheinbaum emphasized the fluid communication she has with the U.S. president, assuring that it is not her desire to open a debate. She stated that they have numerous agreements and that this good communication continues to exist, and when there are disagreements, she mentioned that they are also addressed through official channels and personal communication. «So, it is better to leave it at that,» the president insisted.
Pressure maneuver.
The internationalist José Joel Peña, an academic from UNAM, added that the recent confirmation by U.S. President Donald Trump regarding his offer to Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo for the entry of American troops into national territory to combat drug trafficking should be understood as part of a broader diplomatic pressure strategy. This maneuver, which is generally used by President Trump, seeks to compel the Mexican government to intensify its actions at both the northern border and the southern border with Guatemala and Belize, with the aim of curbing the flow of migrant persons and the trafficking of drugs into the United States, he explained. In this regard, he analyzed that this pressure is not new, but it takes on a more significant character in a political environment where border security represents one of the very few issues on which a substantial portion of the American public approves of Trump’s actions.