In a fiery retort to accusations from former US President Donald Trump, Mexico’s President Claudia Sheinbaum lashed out at the United States, claiming it harbors drug cartels and allows its citizens to collaborate with organized crime south of the border. The sharp rebuke comes as tensions simmer between the neighboring nations over the relentless flow of illicit drugs, particularly fentanyl, into American communities.
“Do Your Job”: Mexico Demands US Action
During her daily press briefing on Thursday, Sheinbaum pulled no punches, asserting that “there is also organized crime in the United States and there are American people who come to Mexico with these illegal activities.” She pointedly asked, “Otherwise who would distribute fentanyl in the cities of the United States?”
The Mexican leader’s frustration was palpable as she called on Washington to step up its efforts not only in cracking down on cartels operating within Mexico but also to “do its job” domestically by making arrests to disrupt drug trafficking networks on US soil. Sheinbaum’s comments come on the heels of a report detailing a staggering 450% surge in arrests of American citizens in Mexico for organized crime-related offenses during her predecessor’s term.
Trump’s Inflammatory Rhetoric Reignites Tensions
The Trump administration has repeatedly taken aim at Mexico, holding it responsible for the northward deluge of drugs, especially the deadly opioid fentanyl. Trump himself has gone so far as to designate certain Mexican cartels as foreign terrorist organizations, a move that has drawn sharp criticism from security experts who argue it oversimplifies a complex bilateral issue.
“Trump’s claim that Mexican cartels and government are allied is not reality”
In an attempt to strong-arm Mexico into action, Trump threatened to impose steep 25% tariffs on all Mexican goods unless Sheinbaum agreed to deploy an additional 10,000 national guard troops to the US-Mexico border. While the Mexican government acquiesced to the demand, the efficacy of the troop surge remains in question.
The American Connection: Cartels’ Stateside Operatives
Security experts acknowledge that Mexican organized crime groups have established a pervasive presence across the United States, playing a pivotal role in the widespread distribution of drugs like fentanyl. “They’re in virtually every corner of the country, no doubt about it,” asserted Jack Riley, former head of the DEA’s Chicago office. “In terms of the control of the dope, the movement of narco money, I would say they’re the number one.”
However, Riley emphasized that dismantling these criminal networks necessitates a concerted binational effort. He also highlighted the growing involvement of American citizens in smuggling drugs across the border, especially those with dual citizenship who can be easily “influenced and corrupted by the cartels.” This trend underscores the complexity of the issue and the need for a comprehensive strategy that extends beyond border security alone.
Google Maps Controversy Adds Fuel to the Fire
Adding to the strained US-Mexico dynamic is a recent controversy involving Google Maps, which, presumably at Trump’s behest, renamed the Gulf of Mexico as the “Gulf of America.” Sheinbaum made it clear that Mexico would not stand for this affront to its sovereignty, stating, “If necessary, we will file a civil suit. Even President Trump isn’t proposing that the entire Gulf of Mexico be called the ‘Gulf of America’, but only their continental shelf. So Google is wrong.”
As the war of words rages on, it has become increasingly evident that addressing the scourge of drug trafficking will require more than political grandstanding and finger-pointing. Both the United States and Mexico must confront their respective roles in perpetuating this crisis and commit to a collaborative, multifaceted approach that tackles the root causes of organized crime and drug abuse. Until then, the flow of drugs—and the blame game—is likely to persist unabated.
