Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum has accused the United States of harboring drug cartels and claimed that American citizens are collaborating with organized crime groups in Mexico. This statement comes in response to recent remarks made by former U.S. President Donald Trump, who alleged that Mexico has aligned itself with drug traffickers. During a press conference, Sheinbaum emphasized that the issue of organized crime is not confined to Mexico, stating, “There is also organized crime in the United States and there are American people who come to Mexico with these illegal activities.” She pointed out that American involvement is critical to the distribution of fentanyl, a potent synthetic opioid that has contributed to a public health crisis in the U.S.
Sheinbaum’s comments followed an investigation that revealed over 2,600 U.S. citizens have been arrested in Mexico for crimes related to organized crime, including drug and firearm smuggling, since the administration of former President Andrés Manuel López Obrador began in December 2018. She stressed that the problem is not solely about drugs moving from Mexico to the U.S., but also about the need for the U.S. to take action against drug trafficking within its own borders.
The Mexican president expressed Mexico’s willingness to collaborate with the U.S. on security issues but insisted that the U.S. must also fulfill its responsibilities to combat drug trafficking domestically. Sheinbaum noted, “If the U.S. government and its agencies want to address the serious fentanyl consumption problem in their country, they could… combat the sale of narcotics on the streets of their major cities.”
In addition to her comments on drug trafficking, Sheinbaum addressed another contentious issue: Google’s decision to rename the Gulf of Mexico as the Gulf of America for U.S. users. She urged the tech giant to reconsider its decision, suggesting that Mexico might pursue legal action if the situation is not rectified. Sheinbaum argued that the name Gulf of Mexico is internationally recognized and that the change is unfounded.
The Mexican government has taken significant steps to combat drug trafficking, having seized over 40 tons of drugs, including 20 million doses of fentanyl, in just four months. Additionally, they have arrested more than 10,000 individuals connected to organized crime. Sheinbaum reiterated that Mexico does not seek confrontation with the U.S. but is committed to a cooperative approach based on mutual respect and shared responsibility.
In a unified statement, the governors of Mexico’s 31 states and Mexico City expressed their condemnation of Trump’s allegations, asserting that such claims are baseless and overlook Mexico’s substantial efforts to tackle organized crime. Marcelo Ebrard, Mexico’s economy minister, criticized Trump’s statements as detrimental to U.S.-Mexico relations, arguing that they serve as a distraction from the negative impact of tariffs imposed on Mexican goods.
As tensions rise over these accusations, Sheinbaum’s administration continues to advocate for a collaborative effort to address the challenges posed by organized crime and drug trafficking, emphasizing the importance of respect for sovereignty and effective coordination between the two nations.