At her Friday morning press conference, President Claudia Sheinbaum discussed Mexico’s water debt to the United States and the upcoming arrival of new U.S. Ambassador Ronald D. Johnson. She also responded to praise from former U.S. President Donald Trump and two prominent figures from the entertainment world.
Asked whether the 1944 Water Treaty between Mexico and the United States should be renegotiated due to climate-related water shortages, Sheinbaum rejected the idea.
“It’s a fair treaty,” she said. “In fact, the United States delivers more [water to Mexico] than we deliver [to them].”
Her comments came a day after Trump claimed on Truth Social that Mexico owes Texas 1.3 million acre-feet of water and is violating the treaty. He warned of escalating consequences — including tariffs and possible sanctions — if Mexico fails to comply.
Sheinbaum responded on social media, noting that Mexico has endured three years of drought and has been complying with the treaty to the extent possible. On Friday, she emphasized that both countries are in ongoing talks and that her government has already proposed an immediate water delivery plan.
“We’re analyzing how much more can be delivered in the second half of the year, depending on rainfall,” she said, calling the proposal “very reasonable.”
Sheinbaum expressed confidence that a “reasonable agreement” will be reached soon and downplayed the likelihood of conflict or sanctions. “As we know, it’s just President Trump’s way of communicating,” she said.
Commenting on the U.S. Senate’s confirmation of Ronald D. Johnson as ambassador to Mexico, Sheinbaum said her administration would engage with him upon his arrival.
“He’s the ambassador they’re sending. We’ll establish the necessary communication and relationship,” she said.
Sheinbaum added that her government would demand “respect and collaboration within the framework of our Constitution.”
Johnson, a former U.S. ambassador to El Salvador and CIA official, previously suggested the U.S. military could act unilaterally against cartels in Mexico if American lives were at risk — a stance Sheinbaum has firmly rejected.