Mexico City — Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo firmly rejected claims that Mexico agreed to a greater presence of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) as part of negotiations with former U.S. President Donald Trump to pause tariffs on Mexican imports.
During her morning press conference, President Sheinbaum Pardo addressed speculation, saying, “No. Collaboration and coordination with the United States—that is what we are talking about. They have agencies there, and what we are asking for is collaboration. Imagine if I had asked for more presence from the DEA. No.”
Her statement comes in response to discussions following a conversation between U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Mexican Foreign Minister Juan Ramón de la Fuente, during which both nations reaffirmed their commitment to work “together as neighbors and partners.”
Border Troop Deployment
The controversy follows Mexico’s recent decision to deploy 10,000 National Guard troops to the U.S.-Mexico border. This move was part of an agreement with the Trump administration to delay by one month the imposition of 25 percent tariffs on Mexican imports.
The potential tariffs had raised significant concerns for Mexico, the largest trading partner of the United States. In 2023, Mexican exports to the U.S. totaled $490.183 billion, representing nearly 30 percent of Mexico’s gross domestic product (GDP), according to a report by the Mexican Institute for Competitiveness (IMCO).
Sovereignty and Coordination
Sheinbaum Pardo emphasized that the discussion between Rubio and De la Fuente focused on enhancing coordination between the two nations rather than increasing U.S. agency operations on Mexican soil.
“The result was really very good. According to what Dr. De la Fuente told me, they had a conversation to outline how these coordination groups will function. There will be good coordination and collaboration, always within the framework of our sovereignty and mutual respect,” the president assured.
Her comments underscore Mexico’s commitment to maintaining national sovereignty while working alongside the United States on matters of mutual interest, including trade and security.
As bilateral discussions continue, both nations face the challenge of balancing collaborative security efforts and maintaining national autonomy amid evolving trade and diplomatic dynamics.
