President Claudia Sheinbaum on Friday assured reporters that a new executive order signed by U.S. President Donald Trump does not signal a military incursion into Mexico.
The New York Times, citing anonymous sources, reported that Trump had “secretly signed a directive” instructing the Pentagon to use military force against certain Latin American drug cartels labeled as terrorist organizations. The Times claimed the order authorized actions abroad, both on land and at sea.
Sheinbaum rejected that interpretation. Speaking at her daily press conference, she said her government had been briefed on the order and that it applied only within U.S. territory.
“We were informed that this executive order was coming and that it had nothing to do with the participation of any military personnel or any institution in our territory,” she said. “We cooperate, we collaborate, but there will be no invasion. That’s ruled out.”
When pressed about the Times report, she said she had not seen the full text of the directive but repeated that “there’s no risk they’ll invade our territory.”
The Pentagon declined to comment to the Times, and when AFP contacted the Defense Department, questions were referred to the White House. The Times maintained that the order creates a legal basis for U.S. military operations abroad against the cartels.
The Trump administration designated six Mexican trafficking organizations as terrorist groups in February, a move Sheinbaum opposed at the time, warning her government would never allow an invasion.
In a Thursday TV interview, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the designation would allow Washington to “use other elements of American power, intelligence agencies, the Department of Defense … to target these groups if we have an opportunity.”
The U.S. has already stationed thousands of combat troops along the southern border to curb drug smuggling—particularly fentanyl—and illegal immigration. It has also deployed two warships, one in the Pacific and one in the Gulf of Mexico, and is using drones and spy planes for cartel surveillance, which Sheinbaum described as a coordinated effort between the two governments.
Meanwhile, Reuters reported Friday that the FBI is seeking to add suspected cartel members to the U.S. terrorist watch list. According to documents reviewed by the news agency, local police have been asked to provide names of individuals tied to the eight groups labeled as terrorist organizations, along with information on family members and associates.
Civil rights advocates warn that such measures could significantly expand the watch list—which already contains about 1.1 million names—leading to increased surveillance, travel restrictions, and heightened screening at ports of entry.