January 9,2026
RED FM News Desk
Mexico’s President Claudia Sheinbaum said Friday she has directed her foreign minister to strengthen coordination with the United States after U.S. President Donald Trump threatened ground strikes against drug cartels, which he said are controlling Mexico.
Speaking at her morning news conference, Sheinbaum said she asked Foreign Minister Juan Ramón de la Fuente to reach out directly to U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and, if needed, to President Trump, in an effort to reinforce bilateral cooperation.
Trump’s remarks to Fox News on Thursday marked his latest escalation in rhetoric about using U.S. military force against cartels operating in Mexico—an action the Mexican government has repeatedly described as a red line. The comments carried added significance following last weekend’s U.S. military operation in Venezuela that led to the capture of President Nicolás Maduro.
“We’ve knocked out 97 per cent of the drugs coming in by water, and now we’re going to start hitting land with regard to the cartels,” Trump told Fox News host Sean Hannity. “The cartels are running Mexico—it’s very, very sad to watch.”
Sheinbaum has warned that any unilateral U.S. military action on Mexican territory would represent a serious violation of Mexico’s sovereignty, while also stressing the importance of close security cooperation with Washington to prevent further escalation.
On Thursday, Sheinbaum cited preliminary figures showing homicides have fallen by 40 per cent since she took office in October 2024. She has also moved to ease tensions with the United States by expelling two groups of alleged high-level cartel operatives and launching a year-long military offensive against the Sinaloa Cartel.
Security analysts and Mexican officials say Sheinbaum is expected to deepen cooperation with Washington following the U.S. action in Venezuela, betting that tighter coordination will reduce the risk of unilateral U.S. military intervention in Mexico.
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